DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN AND RISK ELEMENTS OF STROKE PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background: Stroke is not only one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide but is also a topic of major public health concern in developing countries with a prevalence of 44 - 559 per 100,000 people. This study focuses on risk factors, socioeconomic distribution, drug utilization pattern, rehabilitation of patients and possible solutions to the encountered problems. Methods: Patients admitted to ESIC MC & PGIMSR, Bangalore were included in this cross-sectional study. A complete prole of patients diagnosed with stroke was obtained. On analysing the data obtained from 51 patients Results: under study, it was noted that ischemic stroke was the highest (84.31%), and stroke in males (70.59%) was higher than among females (29.41%) with highest occurrences between 55-70 years of age (41.18%). A large number of people were found to have >=3 risk factors (72.54%), including hypertension (78.43%), alcoholism (50.98%), diabetes mellitus (49.02%), smoking (47.05%), and dyslipidemia (27.45%). It was found that an average patient is prescribed 3.01 drugs in generic name and 4.68 in brand name (p<0.05). The study also highlighted the inadequacy of physiotherapy (39.21%), speech-therapy (11.76%) and occupational-therapy (0%). An understanding of risk factors and drug prescription strategies fol Conclusion: lowed by physicians across different socioeconomic groups helps to ne tune management strategies in accordance with guidelines, to provide a better quality of life to patients.