Evaluation of drug utilization pattern for patients of bronchial asthma in a government hospital of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is a social and economic healthcare burden. Drug utilization studies are important tools to assess current prescription practices against standard guidelines and help in rationalizing the management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the pattern of drug utilization in bronchial asthma patients in a government hospital of Saudi Arabia. Retrospective prescribing information of patients of all ages and both sexes diagnosed with bronchial asthma being treated with at least one of the anti-asthmatic medications was utilized. Demographic details, brand/generic name, indication, route, dosage, frequency, and date of starting the drug were recorded. Prescriptions were examined for order, number, and therapeutic class of drugs in addition to poly-pharmacy and appropriateness. Patients having other respiratory disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), bronchitis, emphysema, or any comorbidity such as diabetes, hypertension, and peptic ulcer were excluded. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 380 prescriptions were studied. Patients were aged from 4 months to 79 years, with 55.3% males and 44.7% females. Pediatric prescriptions were 47.4%. Bronchodilators followed by steroids were the most common drug groups. Salbutamol and budesonide were the most common from each group, respectively. 89.5% of the patients were having at least two drugs. Number of drugs per prescription averaged 3.18 ± 1.22, however, no correlation was found between different age groups and number of drugs. 61.3% drugs were administered by inhalational route and 34.8% by oral route. Approximately 77.2% prescriptions were found to be appropriate. CONCLUSION: Prescription pattern was mainly in accordance with standard guidelines with some knowledge and technical gaps in prescription writing methodology.

Effect of rosuvastatin on dyslipidemia and other parameters associated with metabolic syndrome in Saudi patients.

CONTEXT: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a constellation of metabolic irregularities consisting of dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia, chronic inflammatory, and hypercoagulable state predisposing to diabetes and cardiovascular events. Statins are first-line drugs to treat the associated atherogenic dyslipidemia. AIM: Effect of rosuvastatin on MS in Saudi patients was studied. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective, open label, randomized clinical study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients of either sex ≥18 years (n = 153) having MS as per modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria were prescribed rosuvastatin 10 mg OD for 24 weeks. Serum lipids, biochemical, clinical, and anthropometric parameters were studied before and after treatment. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical Package for Social Sciences version17 was used. Descriptive analysis was used for all variables and documented as mean ± SD. Normality checked by Shapiro-Wilk test, Kurtosis and Skewness Z-score, and visualization of histograms. Lipid levels and other parameters before and after treatment were evaluated by paired t-test for parametric data and Wilcoxon signed rank test for nonparametric data. Pre- and post-test values were correlated by Pearson's correlation coefficient. Multiple regression analysis was performed to see effect of other variables. RESULTS: Highly significant reduction was observed in low density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides; very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol and atherosclerotic index with an elevation in high density lipoprotein cholesterol. A total of 86% patients reached low density lipoprotein cholesterol goal of ≤ 100 mg/dL. Beneficial response was observed on other associated parameters. There was strong correlation between pre- and post values. No significant effect was observed for any of the variables on cholesterol reduction. No serious/severe adverse effect was observed. CONCLUSION: Rosuvastatin markedly improved atherogenic dyslipidemia of MS.