PRESCRIBING PATTERNS OF ANTIDIABETIC MEDICATIONS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL, BAREILLY, UP, INDIA

Multi systems are involved in diabetes mellitus so there is higher risk of polypharmacy & more vulnerable to irrational prescription. The study aimed to describe the prescribing patterns of antidiabetic medication in outpatient department of this Institute & to assess the co-morbidities.The study was a cross sectional survey of all prescriptions received from 186 patients attending OPD of this Institute from Oct 12- Jan 13. Informed verbal consent was obtained from each patient. All the details of prescriptions were entered in structured patient profile form & filled forms were analyzed.Among 186 prescriptions, 102 (54.83%) were male patients and 84(45.16%) were female. Greatest number of patients {59 (31.72%)} belonged to age group of 51-60 years. 67 patients (36.02%) had a diabetic history of <5years and 157 patients (84.4%) had at least one concurrent illness. Average number of drugs per prescription was 5.97. Prescriptions contained various other drugs apart from antidiabetic medications. Among various antidiabetics, sulfonylureas accounted for highest prescriptions i.e. 26.74% followed by combination of sulfonylurea & metformin (18.60%) that in turn was followed by metformin (17.44%). Pioglitazone alone was also prescribed to sizable number of patients (13.56%). Other combination therapies were also prescribed. Insulin therapy was given to 18.6% of patients to type 1 as well as uncontrolled type 2 diabetics. Human mixtard 30/70 penfil was most commonly prescribed preparation (62.5%)Insulin & sulfonylurea were most commonly prescribed antidiabetics. Polypharmacy was a great problem especially for elderly people. There is a need to develop & use evidence based guidelines for specific conditions by independent bodies. Drug use by their generic name should be encouraged.