A STUDY ON PRESCRIBING PATTERN IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS

Objective: The objective of this study was to study the prescribing pattern in geriatric patients. Methods: A prospective study was carried out for a period of 4 years with one of the objectives to study the prescribing pattern in geriatric patients (≥65 years). The information was collected, from patients admitted to various departments of tertiary care hospital and old-age home at Chitradurga. Sociodemographic, economic, and clinical diagnosis and medication details were collected from medical records in a pre-structured case record form. The medications were classified based on Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system. Results: A total number of 526 geriatric patients were enrolled during the study period. Young older patients (75.29%) and male subjects (55.89%) were predominant. Multiple morbidity conditions were more in the present study. Among the diseases diagnosed, circulatory system (I00-I99) affecting was more 41.83%. Prescriptions found with a sum total of 3228 formulations with 357 active drugs. About 56.27% of patients received ≥6 medications (polymedication) and an average of 6.14 drugs per prescription. Usage of parenterals (53.06%) was more among dosage forms. Prescriptions with alimentary tract, metabolism (A) (26.96%), and general anti-infective (J) (19.08%) class of drugs were common. Among individual drugs, pantoprazole (A02BC02), paracetamol (N02BE01), and ceftriaxone (J01DD04) were found more frequent in prescriptions. Conclusion: The study concludes the need of intellect prescribing practice, to install more rational therapy among geriatric patients