Abstract

A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON DRUG UTILIZATION REVIEW OF CORTICOSTEROIDS IN COPD AND ASTHMA AT A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Daniya Fatima Riha*, Sumayya, Sahera Banu, Sabah Tazeen, Madiha Nooreen, Syeda Rana Nikhat and Rafia Sultana

ABSTRACT

Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs that have proven benefits for patients with exacerbated asthma and COPD. The patients are prescribed the combination of corticosteroids and bronchodilators for reduction of exacerbation. In this study on drug utilization review of corticosteroids in COPD and asthma was performed. Our aim was to study drug utilization review of corticosteroids use in asthma and COPD patients. This single centre prospective observational study was conducted in the general department of Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad. In this study a total of 120 cases were collected i.e., 60 cases of Asthma and 60 cases of COPD 68% patients were males and 32% patients were females with age ranging from 20-86 years. Smoking and age (>60years) were observed to be the major risk factors observed in COPD and environmental factors and occupational factors were for asthma. The most commonly prescribed corticosteroids were Budesonide in COPD patients and Hydrocortisone in asthma patients. Dual Corticosteroid therapy were prescribed in 18.3% of COPD patients and 17.5% of asthma patients. Other corticosteroids prescribed were methyl prednisolone. From the total cases of corticosteroids prescribed with beta agonist were 75% and without beta agonist were 25%. The mean partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) and carbon dioxide (pCO2) were used as the assessing parameters. The number of ADRs observed were 23. The highest observed number of ADR was hyperglycaemia. The possible drug interactions that can occur in the prescription due to corticosteroids were also observed. The pO2 and pCO2 values showed higher improvement in Asthma than COPD.

Keywords: COPD, Asthma, Corticosteroids, Exacerbation, Budesonide and Hydrocortisone.