Assessment of Drug Prescribing Pattern in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients at a Tertiarycare Hospital

INTRODUCTION: The management of COPD is symptomatic and as it requires long-term treatment. The irrational use of drugs may lead to certain consequences.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze drug prescription pattern in COPD patients using GOLD treatment guidelines.

METHODOLOGY: A prospective observational study was conducted in General Medicine department of a tertiary care hospital for a period of 6 months. All COPD Patients with tobacco smoking, along with co morbidities and those who visited the hospital for acute exacerbation of the disease inclusive of both genders aged above 18 years were enrolled in the study. Upon prior consent from the patients, data was collected which includes the patient demographics and medications prescribed. The medication charts were analysed using GOLD treatment guidelines.

RESULTS: A total of 100 patients of either sex who fulfilled our inclusion criteria were evaluated. Among them, COPD was reported more in male patients(78%) as compared to females(22%). 35% were in the age group of 61-70 years while 1% were below 20 years of age as well as between 20-30 year age group. Antibiotics (42%) were the most prescribed class of drug in which Ceftriaxone (44%) and Azithromycin (25%) were mostly preferred. Parentral steroids were used in 20% of the patients and all of them received Hydrocortisone (50%) whereas 19% were prescribed with Methyxanthines in which Doxofylline (56.89%) was the most preferred drug. The most prescribed combination therapy was salbutamol+ ipratropium bromide and budesonide (40%). The most preferred route of administration was oral route (44.5%). 89% of the drugs were written in trade names, while 11% of the drugs were mentioned with their generic name.

DISCUSSION&CONCLUSION: It was found that majority (89.7%) of the drugs were given in accordance with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criteria recommendations. This study reveals that generic prescription is very low and suggests that efforts must be made to encourage prescribers for generic prescribing which may have a multitude of benefits.