Abstract Diabetic mellitus is an emerging
disease in
Saudi Arabia. In this regard, a cross-sectional
retrospective study was conducted to evaluate
drug utilization pattern and the
cost associated with
non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus disease management in
Saudi Arabia. Data retrieved from the
electronic pharmacy records during the last one year were employed in this study.
World Health Organization (
WHO) Defined Daily
Dose (
DDD)
method was employed to compute the daily
price of each oral hypoglycaemic agent. The American Diabetes
Association (ADA) guidelines and
protocols were used to evaluate the level of adherence. A total of 17057
patients were enrolled in the study. Out of the 17057
patients enrolled in the study, 60.06 % (10246) were
males and the
rest females. In monotherapy,
biguanides (
metformin) were the most recommended and utilised
drugs among 5673
patients (33.25%). The most commonly used
drug combination was found to be
sitagliptin+
metformin (1754 units). The
cost per unit
dose was highest for
liraglutide (A10BJ02) 258.32SR (68.79USD), and lowest for
metformin (A10BA02) 0.49SR (0.13 USD).
Metformin was the choice
drug for the diabetes
patients;
biguanides (
metformin) and DPP-4 (sitagliptins) were the most familiar established
dose combination employed.
Generic drugs should be used in order to reduce overall
cost.