Abstract

EVALUATION OF PRESCRIBING PATTERN IN GERIATRIC OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL - A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Dr. J. Komathi*, Dr. M. Punitha and Dr. G. Amudha

ABSTRACT

Background: Elderly people have multiple co morbidities which leads to the use of multiple drugs (Polypharmacy). Nowadays as the average life span approaches 80 years, the need for appropriate drug therapy also increases. Identification of drug induced adverse reactions (ADR), drug- drug interactions (DDI) and management of the same is obligatory. Objectives: To evaluate the appropriateness of prescription and to find out the prevalence of polypharmacy, DDI, ADR in the prescriptions of patients attending geriatric OPD. Materials and methods: This observational, outpatient, prescription audit study was conducted at tertiary care hospital. Elders of 60 and above were enrolled. Collected data from 210 prescriptions of geriatric patients were analysed by using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 210 prescriptions were utilised for the study. Among these 43.81% were males and 56.19% were females. The primary diagnosis of most patients was Hypertension followed by Diabetes mellitus. Polypharmacy was present in 29.1% of prescriptions.7.15% of DDIs were observed in prescriptions having polypharmacy. Commonly reported ADRs were giddiness and nausea. A review of prescribed medications using the updated Beer’s criteria identified the following inappropriate drugs like Chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM), theophylline, indomethacin and diazepam. Conclusion: This study concludes that prevalence of polypharmacy and prescription of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) are on lower side in this tertiary care hospital geriatric OPD, still the service of clinical pharmacologist is mandatory to streamline geriatric care.

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