PROFILE AND PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF ANTI DIABETIC DRUGS IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL AT DAKSHIN KANNADA DISTRICT, KARNATAKA

Javedh Shareef*, Jennifer Fernandes, L N Samaga, Dilnasheen, Anisty Maria Joy

ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus can virtually affect every system of the human body leading to micro vascular and macro vascular complications. Patients with diabetes mellitus are at higher risk of polypharmacy and more vulnerable to irrational prescription. The study aimed to evaluate profile and prescribing pattern of anti-diabetic agents in patients with diabetes mellitus in a tertiary care teaching hospital at dakshin kannada district, Mangalore, Karnataka, A prospective, cross-sectional study was carried out in the out-patient clinic of general medicine department for three months from January 2015-march 2015. All the patients with diabetes mellitus who visited the out-patient department during the study period were interviewed and their prescriptions were reviewed by the researchers, based on the study objectives. The details were entered in the data form and later were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. A total of 137 patients with 60 males (43.79%) and 77 females (56.20%) were enrolled into the study. The mean (± standard deviation) age and duration of diabetes was 56.79 ± 9.81 and 8.03 ± 7.38 years respectively. Among these, 56 (40.87%) were in the age group 51-60 years, 91(66.42%) had a history of Diabetes mellitus of 1-10 years, 82 (59.85%) had no family history of diabetes and 108 (78.83%) had at least one concurrent illness. Hypertension (44.82%) was most common co-morbid illness. Metformin (37.85%) was the most common prescribed anti-diabetic drug followed by insulin (36.42%). Metformin with glimepride (70.17%) was the most prescribed combination. Biguanides and insulin were the most commonly prescribed anti diabetic drugs. As patients with diabetes mellitus are associated with multiple co-morbidities, poly pharmacy is unavoidable. The study also witnessed a shifting trend towards the use of insulin preparations and combination therapy in the management of diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Prescription pattern, Anti-diabetic agents, Dakshin Kannada.