Drug utilization pattern of antidiabetic agents in a tertiary care hospital of western Odisha, India

Background: A changing life style in developing countries like India has increased the statistical figure of diabetes mellitus even among rural populations and younger age groups. Prevalence rate of diabetes in Odisha is about 10%. There is intensive polypharmacy as regards the treatment of diabetes mellitus which is not only affecting the quality of life of patients adversely by producing side effects including hypoglycemia but also taking a toll on the financial state of the poor people. With this background, this study was conducted to evaluate the drug utilization pattern of antidiabetic agents to facilitate rational use of drugs in this condition.Methods: This observational study was conducted in 230 patients for a period of 2 months in the department of general medicine at V. S. S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Burla. After taking informed consent, the patient’s case records, prescriptions, investigational reports and co - morbidities were evaluated.Results: In our study, insulin was found to be the most commonly used antidiabetic agent both during hospital stay (80%) and also at the time of discharge (60%). Metformin with sulfonylurea was the most frequently prescribed oral anti diabetic combination in 9.5% of patients. Average cost of insulin therapy was rs. 80 per patient per month and of oral antidiabetic drug was rs. 45.66 per patient per month during hospital stay.Conclusions: The prescribing trend has been monotherapy with insulin followed by oral antidiabetic drugs in the form of glimepiride and metformin combination