Publication:

Prescription pattern in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in a tertiary hospital: an observational study

Background Drug utilization studies promote rational use of drugs and help to decrease the adverse drug reactions. Such studies are powerful tools to evaluate the role of drugs in the society. The present study is aimed to analyse and evaluate the trends and patterns of prescribing drugs among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.

Methods A prospective observational study was conducted in 112 patients of COPD admitted in the general and pulmonary medicine departments over a period of 1-year in SGT Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute, SGT University, Gurugram. Patients, who satisfied the inclusion criteria, were enrolled in the study after taking informed consent. Data was collected by using the specially designed data entry form and put in tabulated form. The results were expressed as percentages. The following information was collected for each patient: social demographics, smoking history, prescribed COPD treatments. Health related quality of life indices were obtained using validated questionnaires.

Results Out of the 112-study population, male patients were more in number (76.36%). The majority of the patients were from the age group of 61-70 years (47.2%) with 56.36% patients showing severe rating (poor score) of quality of life on COPD assessment test. Smoking was found to be more prominent in the study population (71.42%). Inhaled corticosteroids (67.85%) were most prescribed class of drugs in the management of COPD followed by systemic bronchodilators (64.28%). The most commonly prescribed bronchodilator was systemic methylxanthine (deriphylline-64.28%) followed by systemic β2 agonist (Terbutaline-62.5%). Inhaled corticosteroids (67.85%) were prescribed more often than systemic corticosteroids. Among antimicrobials, the most commonly prescribed drug was Amoxicillin-clavulanic combination (35.71%) and ceftriaxone (35.71%). Considering the drugs prescribed for co-morbid conditions, proton- pump inhibitors (73.21%) topped the list followed by antihistaminic (37.5%) for allergic conditions.

Conclusions The study concludes that symptomatic treatment was given to COPD patients in the hospital. The prescribing pattern was found to be in concordance with the current global Initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) guidelines in the management of COPD patients.