RATIONALITY OF FIXED DRUG DOSE COMBINATION – A PROSPECTIVE VIEW IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Neethu J.*, Dr. Babitha M., Soumya R. V., Nithin Manohar R. V., Jisha Vijayan and Sruthy S. A.

ABSTRACT

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality can be markedly reduced by achieving clinical blood pressure (BP) goals. Fixed dose combination helps to attain the BP goal earlier than would be the case with monotherapy. The main aim of the present study was to assess the prescribing pattern of fixed dose combination (FDC) of antihypertensive drugs. A prospective observational study was conducted in the cardiology department of multispeciality tertiary care hospital for a period of six months. All hypertensive patients prescribed with anti-hypertensive FDCs were randomly selected and their outpatient records were monitored and documented in a specially designed proforma and the data was then suitably analyzed. During the study period, 150 patients met the selection criteria, a total of 26 different anti-hypertensive FDCs were found. Most of the patients on FDCs were in an age group of 60-69 years with an almost equal distribution among both genders. Only 10% of patients presented with hypertension alone. Most of the patients had other concomitant illnesses (heart diseases, followed by dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus). Most commonly used combination was the RAAS inhibitor (ACEI/ARBS) with diuretic combination (32.6%), followed by RAAS inhibitor with calcium channel blocker (28%). Only one triple drug combination of olmesartan/amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide was prescribed, which was also most commonly prescribed. The present study emphasizes the need to formulate and implement appropriate prescribing guidelines for FDCs based on local prescribing, and to conduct further studies to analyse and improve the prescribing patterns and promote rational drug use.

Keywords: Antihypertensive-blood pressure-fixed dose combination-hypertension-prescribing pattern.