DRUG UTILISATION EVALUATION OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVES IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: Hypertension is a leading contributor to the global burden of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The main objective of the present study was to assess the drug utilization patterns of antihypertensives in geriatric patients in a teaching hospital. Methods: A Single centre Prospective Observational study was carried out for a period of three months in an out-patient department of Owaisi Hospital & Research Centre. Elderly patients who have been diagnosed with hypertension as per JNC-7 guidelines and patients receiving or prescribed with antihypertensive drugs were included. Results: A total of 100 prescriptions were analyzed during the three month study period. 72% of the patients were in the age group of 65-67 years and this was found to be higher in men 68%. During the study period 80% of the patients were Pre-Hypertensive systolic (80-89 mmHg) and Diastolic (120-139 mmHg) followed by Stage-I Hypertension and Stage-II Hypertension. The most common drug classes involved in the study was Calcium Channel Blockers 37% followed by Angiotensin II receptor antagonists 21% and the most commonly prescribed drugs in the study population were Amlodipine 37%, Losartan 11% and Telmisartan 10%. The most common anti-hypertensive fixed dose combination therapy involved in the study was Telmisartan + Hydrochlorothiazide 15% and most common two drug combination therapy involved in the study was Amlodipine + Atenolol 7% followed by Metoprolol + Amlodipine 1%. Conclusion: Our study shows that the most commonly prescribed drug classes involved were Calcium Channel Blockers followed by Angiotensin II receptor antagonists and the anti-hypertensive drug combinations among hypertensive patients were considerable and this practice positively impacted on the overall blood pressure control