European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN IN PREDIALYSIS AND DIALYSIS PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Viji V.*, Jayakrishnan S. S. and Sajeev Kumar K. S.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease is increasingly recognized as a global public health programme. Rational drug prescription is difficult in CKD patients due to a higher risk of drug related problems since they need complex therapeutic regimens and they require frequent monitoring and dosage adjustments. Methodology: Objective of the study was to compare the drug utilization pattern of predialysis and dialysis patients. Study design & Settings: Prospective observational study in the Department of Nephrology, Govt. Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. Study period & size: Six months with 72 participants Results and Discussion: Majority of the study population were in the age range of 52.711.3 years in predialysis and 53.111.5 years in dialysis group. Male predominance was found in both groups. In our study, most of the patients were in the upper lower socioeconomic class and none of them from upper socioeconomic class. Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus were the commonly observed comorbidity in both groups. Antihypertensives and Antianaemics were commonly used drug class in dialysis patients but in predialysis it was Antihypertensives and antidiabetics. Conclusion: In India, the common co-morbid conditions of ESRD are hypertension and diabetes mellitus so the early detection and treatment of these diseases plays a vital role in the prevention and progression of renal failure. A clinical pharmacist can help to prevent this progression of ESRD by providing patient counseling about lifestyle modification, rational drug use and educating the risk group for regular checkup and adhering to the treatment thus can reduce the economic burden of the patient.

Keywords: Dialysis, Drugs, Drug utilization pattern, ESRD, Kidney, Patients, Predialysis.