Journal of Basic and Clinical Pharmacy received 16585 citations as per google scholar report
Introduction: Diabetes is regarded as 21st century’s epidemic. To prevent complications, apart from life style modification pharmacotherapy is required to control blood sugar. Even though many oral antidiabetic drugs are available, satisfactory/target glycaemic control is not achieved. Cost of drug therapy is an important factor influencing compliance with treatment, particularly chronic diseases. So, need for periodic evaluation of prescription of diabetic patients.
Aims and objective: To analyse pattern of antidiabetic drug prescriptions and percentage cost variation of prescribed antidiabetic drugs.
Methods: This was a cross sectional observational study conducted among type 2 diabetes patients aged>12 yrs (either gender) at Out Patient Department (OPD) of private diabetes clinic during 2018-2019. Juvenile diabetes, gestational diabetes, indoor patients were excluded from the study. Patients were interviewed and details were filled up in case record form. Socio-demographic data, prescription pattern, percentage cost variation and cost ratio were analyzed.
Result: Total 349 patients were enrolled with mean age 53 ± 12 years. Average no. of antidiabetic drugs per prescription was 3.34. Majority (96.56%) patients were prescribed at least one Fixed Dose Combination (FDC). Most common FDC was (97.99%) with biguanides and sulfonylureas. FDC with Metformin (500 mg) and glimepiride (2 mg) had maximum percentage cost variation (712.20) and very high cost ratio (8.12). Satisfactory glycemic levels were achieved in 58.45% patients.
Conclusion: Polypharmacy, overuse of FDC’S with vast percentage cost variation and high cost ratio was observed. Need to pay attention towards diabetic education training, rational treatment approach and pricing control of medicine by regulatory agency