A STUDY OF DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN IN MEDICAL CRITICAL CARE UNIT OF A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Chronic disease and life threatening disorders among CCU patients have resulted in medicating them with drugs from different pharmacological classes, which is further complicated by the altered physiology and multi-organ system failure. OBJECTIVE : To evaluate the drug utilization pattern in patients admitted in Medical Critical Care Unit (MCCU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational study carried out in Medical Critical Care Unit at a tertiary care teaching hospital. The data were entered in pre tested case record form and analysed for demographic details, clinical management and prescribing pattern. The DDD per 100 bed days was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 400 patients were evaluated consisting 70% male patients. Average duration of stay was 7.38 + 0.34 (mean + SE) days. Most common causes for admission to the ICU were intraparenchymal haemorrhage (18%), cerebrovascular stroke (15%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (15%). An average number of drugs per patient was 15.14 + 0.19 (mean + SE). Commonly prescribed drug group was the antimicrobial agents (AMAs) in which metronidazole has highest DDD/100 bed days of 11.08. Other commonly prescribed groups were drugs affecting blood and gastrointestinal drugs. It was observed that out of 400 patients, 223 (56%) patients were discharged and 177 (44%) patients were expired. CONCLUSION: The polypharmacy was present and antimicrobials were highest prescribed drug in our MCCU. The prescribers should be making aware about risks of polypharmacy.