Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the patterns of cardiovascular drug utilization among patients in ICCU of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A prospective study was carried out in the intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) of Bapuji hospital, Davangere, for a period of 3 months. Data were analysed for demographics, indications for admission, comorbidities, duration of hospital stay and various drugs prescribed. Results: Of the 100 patients, 68% were males, with mean age of 62.1±12.25 yrs. A majority of patients had diagnosis of MI (64%). The average number of days of ICCU stay was 3, with average drugs prescribed per patient was 10.125. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the most common co-morbidities. Out of the MI patients 61% received streptokinase for thrombolysis. The commonly prescribed drug classes were dual platelet inhibitors(aspirin, clopidogrel) (72%), statins (83%), ACE-inhibitors/Angiotensin receptor blockers (21%), LMWH (60%) and antianginal drugs like ranolazine(45%), isosorbide dinitrate(27%),opioid analgesics(60%) pantoprazole (80%) to prevent peptic ulcer and anxiolytics (59%). Antibiotics were also prescribed (24%) and most commonly prescribed was combination of ceftriaxone and salbactum. Conclusion: Need based polypharmacy is commonly practised and majority of the drugs were prescribed according to standard treatment guidelines. Drug utilization studies need to be conducted more often to improve the efficiency of drug usage.

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