Publication:

Pharmacoepidemiological assessment of endocrine disorders in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background The endocrine disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism along with world’s ageing population has increased the burden of health care systems. The present study aimed to assess the prescribing pattern of drugs in endocrine disease like diabetes and thyroid disorder and to evaluate the drug use in given healthcare against programmed criteria and standards.

Methods A prospective observational study was conducted in 220 patients over six months in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients who are diagnosed with endocrine disorder in various (general medicine, surgery and Orthopedics) inpatient departments of study hospital.

Results A prospective observational study was carried out by reviewing prescriptions of 220 patients with lifestyle disorders such as, DM (120), hyperthyroidism (50) and hypothyroidism (50). In diabetes, most of the patients were prescribed with biguanides 75 (47.17%) followed by sulfonylureas 56 (35.22%), alpha-glycosidase inhibitors 20 (12.58%), dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors 5 (3.14%), meglitinides 2 (1.26%) and thiazolidinediones 1 (0.63%). Most of the prescription containing insulin Actrapid and insulin Mixtard 14 (82.35%) followed by insulin Actrapid and insulin NPH 2 (11.76%), insulin Mixtard and insulin Glargine 1 (5.89%). In hypothyroidism most of the patients were prescribed with propylthiouracil 28 (56%) followed by methimazole 26 (44%). Levothyroxine is the best choice of drug for hypothyroid disorder.

Conclusions Our study found that treatment and management of endocrine disorders were not rational. There is a need of clinical pharmacist involvement for a better patient care in these disorders.