ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS UTILIZATION PRACTICE PATTERNS IN AN URBAN TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL.

Kailash Chandra Swain*

ABSTRACT

Background: Hypertension is a state of persistent high systolic and diastolic blood pressure, its prevention with rational treatment, is necessary to prevent its dreaded complications related mainly to cardiovascular, renal & cerebro-vasculatures ultimately resulting in “End-organ damageâ€Â such as stroke, retinopathy, renal failure, unstable angina, myocardial infarction etc. Hence, the aim & priority is to Prescribe Appropriate rational medications in the practice pattern to preclude the risk of these complications. Aims; Therefore the aim of this study is to find out the utilization pattern of antihypertensive drugs in the state of Sikkim, East India. Methods: A total of 280 cases suffering from hypertension without any comorbid condition and receiving antihypertensive medication, were recruited from the medicine outpatient department or being admitted in the in-patient facility of the Medicine ward in the Central Referral Hospital, Gangtok, Sikkim. The OPD prescription slips and patient’s case sheets were screened during the study period & also the age & sex of each patient were noted along with antihypertensive used (Generic Name, Brand Name, Dose and Frequency]. Results: It is found that calcium channel blockers and angiotensin II receptor blockers are prescribed most extensively ahead of diuretics agents and there are no marked differences in the use of antihypertensive drugs in both the genders. Conclusions: Utilization practice Pattern of drugs of different class was varied demonstrating that ACE inhibitor and CCBs the most and Alpha blockers are the least utilized drugs.

Keywords: Antihypertensive, Practices, India.