Drug Utilization Pattern of Antihypertensive Drugs at Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Introduction: Hypertension represents a major health problem primarily because of its role in contributing to the initiation and progression of major cardiovascular diseases. This cross-sectional observational study aims at analysing the utilization pattern of antihypertensives used for the treatment of hypertension at a tertiary care hospital in perspective of standard treatment guidelines. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, cross sectional and observational study carried out in the outpatient of Department of General Medicine of NC Medical College and Hospital. All patients with proven hypertension and put on antihypertensive medications were recruited from the Department of Medicine. The total duration of the study was 1 year i.e. December 2019 to November 2020. Results: In our study, the mean systolic blood pressure (mean±S.D) of the patients was 154.34±9.43 and the median was 153. Test of proportion showed most of the patients 53 (44.1%) were significantly higher systolic blood pressure ranging from 160-179 mmHg. The mean diastolic blood pressure (mean±S.D) of the patients was 98.32±8.43. Test of proportion showed most of the patients 51 (42.5%) were significantly higher diastolic blood pressure ranging from 100-119 mmHg. Test of proportion showed most of the patients 62 (51.6%) were on Mono therapy significantly higher than dual therapy, triple therapy and poly therapy, 34 (26.6%), 13 (10.8%), 11 (9.1%) respectively. Causality assessment of ADRs was done using WHOUMC scale which categorizes ADRs as “certain”, “probable”, “possible” and “unlikely”. Table 8 shows that type of reactions and their percentage are as certain (9.6%), Probable/ Likely (67.7%), Possible (19.3%), and Unlikely (3.2%). Conclusions: In this study usage of anti-hypertensive drugs were prescribed rationally in tertiary care hospital. The study emphasizes that need for effective continuing medical education and also preventive measures in hypertensive individuals.