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A STUDY ON THE CURRENT TRENDS IN PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF DRUGS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE AT A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Syed Areefulla Hussainy*, Yasmeen Sultana, Asma Ali Shareef, Syeda Fadiya Kulsum, Bibi Farhana

Aim & objective: The principle aim of our study was to evaluate the current trends in prescribing pattern of drugs used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to check the rationality of the prescription at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methodology: A Prospective and observational study was carried out at the Department of general medicine in Osmania General Hospital, a tertiary care teaching hospital for a period of 6 months. All the patients of either sex and with co-morbidities attending General medicine department with established chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were included in the study. In-patients already diagnosed of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and are on treatment. In this Study, patients of more than 18 years of age group were included. Patients diagnosed under 18 years of age, pregnant and lactating women, refusal to be a part of the study and Out-Patients were excluded. Results: During the study period, a total 100 Patients were enrolled. Out of which 92% were male and 8% were female. Among the total patients, common age group was 60-69 years. It was found that 75% of subjects were addicted to smoking and 48% of patients were admitted with stage-4 COPD, it was also noticed that 33% patients were admitted with RTI with corpulmonale as a comorbidity, 85% patients were given oxygen therapy,58% patients were prescribed methylxanthines, 51% were prescribed systemic corticosteroids,41% were prescribed antibiotics,18% were prescribed inhaled corticosteroids,16% were prescribed short acting beta 2 agonist and mucolytics and 10% were prescribed with anticholinergics. Conclusion: In our study, we observed that the incidence of COPD was more common in males.The study population was treated with combination drugs and multidrug therapy out of which inhalation route was the most preferred one.Severity of COPD was calculated based on mMRC scale,risk factors and symptoms.Various classes of drugs prescribed were Methylxanthines, systemic corticosteroids, antibiotics, inhaled corticosteroids, SABA(Short acting beta 2 agonist),mucolytics and anticholinergics.Antibiotics were prescribed irrespective of culture sensitivity test and mostly based on symptoms. Spirometry which is a standard test for the diagnosis of COPD was not performed in this study, so it should be performed according to GOLD guidelines. In our study, vaccinations were not given to the patients so it should be promoted according to GOLD guidelines. Keywords: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Beta 2 Agonist, Anticholinergics, Methylxanthines, Corticosteroids and Antibiotics.

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