PATTERN OF DRUGS PRESCRIBING IN OSTEOARTHRITIC PATIENTS IN OUT PATIENT DEPARTMENT OF CRIMSON HOSPITAL, RUPANDEHI

*Mukesh Kumar Chaudhary, Deepa Bhattarai, Dikshya Kafle, Mausami Kunwar and Ranju Panthi

ABSTRACT

Osteoarthritis is universally known as one of most common musculoskeletal disorder. It normally implicates as pain involving several joints, mainly occurring in the elderly with a radiographic prevalence of nearly 70% in persons over age 65. Drug utilization research was defined by WHO in 1977 as the marketing, distribution, prescription and use of drugs in a society, with special emphasis on the resulting medical, social and economic consequences. The main objective of the study is to know about the prescription pattern of drugs in osteoarthritis based on the WHO drug prescribing indicators. The study design was prospective observational study. Total 100 patients were included who were clinically diagnosed with osteoarthritis. The result of this study shows that most of the patients were from age group 50-60. Female patients were more (71%) than male (29%). Most of the patients were from urban region (91%). Out of hundred patients, 82 patients had Knee OA and 18 patients had hip OA. Our study showed that preferred route of drug administration as oral route 91% followed by topical route 9%. The average number of drugs prescribed for the patients of OA was 4.48%. Our study concludes that NSAIDS were prescribed most commonly. However the drug paracetamol was lesser prescribed than other drugs Diclofenac (2.003%), aceclofenac (11.38%). Various other drugs were also used as adjunct therapy that included gastro protective agents in 23.42% of patients, Vitamin and minerals 51% and symptomatic slow acting drug for OA which included diacerin and glucosamine in 23% of patients.

Keywords: NSAIDS, Osteoarthritis, Prescribing pattern, Pain.