ABSTRACT
Dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) and statins are recommended by guidelines for the management of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), even though the duration of treatment is guided by ischemic and bleeding risk. Clopidogrel and aspirin are the most commonly used DAPT in CVDs. Adding a statin to DAPT is helpful in reducing the thrombosis risk. Fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapy in CVD can help to address the factors of convenience, compliance, control, cost, and complication better than free drug combinations. Therefore, the FDC of rosuvastatin (10 mg or 20 mg) + clopidogrel (75 mg) + aspirin (75 mg) is likely to improve compliance in CVD patients, thereby reducing adverse cardiovascular outcomes and cost of treatment. There is lack of awareness on long term benefits of this FDC in Indian patients.
ABSTRACT
Background: Scientific literature advocates the need for combination therapies in combatting lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). Cefixime (400 mg) and moxifloxacin (400 mg) fixed dose combination (FDC) is currently approved in India for the management of LRTI, but data related to its real world usage is lacking. The present study was designed to understand the real world use (effectiveness and safety) of this FDC in LRTI.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at out-patient departments of 5 hospitals between August 2018 and January 2019. After ethics committee approval, data of adults LRTI patients who received FDC of cefixime (400 mg) and moxifloxacin (400 mg) for at least 72 hours was collected. Improvement in LRTI symptoms (cough, sputum volume and purulence, fever, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue) were scored at baseline and follow-up using a 5-point severity scale. White blood cell (WBC) counts at baseline and end-of-treatment were compared.Results: Data of 190 patients having mean age 42.33+16.15 years was evaluated. Majority were males (61.58%), with commonest LRTI infection being community acquired pneumonia (CAP) (84.21%). Commonest clinical symptom reported (97.37%) was cough. All patients showed improvement in symptoms and significant improvement in all mean symptom scores were noted (p<0.05). Of the 30 patients having WBC above normal range, 29 showed a decrease in count at end of treatment. No adverse events were reported.Conclusions: Oral FDC of cefixime (400 mg) and moxifloxacin (400 mg) was efficacious in improving all symptoms reported by LRTI patients without causing any adverse event.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Hypertension is a multi-factorial and complex disease that has both environmental and genetic determinants. It is the single most significant risk factor for heart diseases and kidney diseases. Hypertension is a leading contributor to global burden of morbidity and mortality. It is considered as a silent killer because most of the time it is asymptomatic and goes undetected. Hence, hypertensive patients should be prescribed properly. Objectives: To evaluate the prescribing pattern of anti-hypertensive drugs in patients of hypertension. Material and Methods: This was an observational, cross sectional study conducted over a period of 1 year on hypertensive patients attending the Cardiology out-patient department of Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala and fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The prescriptions were evaluated. Results: 22% of prescriptions had monotherapy, amongst which beta-blockers were most commonly prescribed. Majority of prescriptions had two drug therapy (47%), among which ARB+ beta blockers (17%) were most frequently prescribed. Beta blockers +CCB (9%) was the most common Fixed Drug Combination (FDC) prescribed. ARB+beta blockers+diuretics (14%) and ACEI+ARB+beta blockers+diuretics (1%) were most commonly prescribed three drug combinations. Among four drug combinations, only ACEI+ARB+beta blockers+diuretics was prescribed to 1% patients. Hypolipidemic drugs (66%) were maximally co-prescribed. Conclusions: A high trend of polypharmacy was observed in hypertensive patients. So, emphasis is needed to reevaluate the prescribing trends in these patients.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Hypertension is a multi-factorial and complex disease that has both environmental and genetic determinants. It is the single most significant risk factor for heart diseases and kidney diseases. Hypertension is a leading contributor to global burden of morbidity and mortality. It is considered as a silent killer because most of the time it is asymptomatic and goes undetected. Hence, hypertensive patients should be prescribed properly. Objectives: To evaluate the prescribing pattern of anti-hypertensive drugs in patients of hypertension. Material and Methods: This was an observational, cross sectional study conducted over a period of 1 year on hypertensive patients attending the Cardiology out-patient department of Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala and fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The prescriptions were evaluated. Results: 22% of prescriptions had monotherapy, amongst which beta-blockers were most commonly prescribed. Majority of prescriptions had two drug therapy (47%), among which ARB+ beta blockers (17%) were most frequently prescribed. Beta blockers +CCB (9%) was the most common Fixed Drug Combination (FDC) prescribed. ARB+beta blockers+diuretics (14%) and ACEI+ARB+beta blockers+diuretics (1%) were most commonly prescribed three drug combinations. Among four drug combinations, only ACEI+ARB+beta blockers+diuretics was prescribed to 1% patients. Hypolipidemic drugs (66%) were maximally co-prescribed. Conclusions: A high trend of polypharmacy was observed in hypertensive patients. So, emphasis is needed to reevaluate the prescribing trends in these patients.