A prospective study of drug utilization, adverse drug reaction and rational drug usage among glaucoma patients attending ophthalmology outpatient department in a tertiary care hospital.

Bathrachalam, Anupriya; Prasad, K. V. Siva

Background: Glaucoma is chronic, progressive optic neuropathy caused by group of ocular conditions, which lead to damage of the optic nerve with loss of visual function. It is generally, but not necessarily, associated with raised [>21 mm Hg] intraocular pressure. Second leading cause of preventable blindness in persons aged more than 40 years. Aim: To assess the drug utilization pattern, adverse effects and rational use of drugs in glaucoma patients at ophthalmology OPD in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: It was a prospective observational, cross-sectional, noninterventional study carried out from December 2020 to May 2021 in Outpatient Ophthalmology Department. The prescriptions of patient attending the ophthalmology OPD were screened and recorded. Results: Of 108 patients, 68 were female and 40 were male. Average age of patient was 41-60 years. Common variant of glaucoma was Primary Open Angle Glaucoma in 97% of patients. Among the medications, Timolol were prescribed the most [56%] followed by Dorzolamide [12.5%] and Latanoprost [12.5%] and 34% were fixed dose combinations. Most of the medications prescribed were given through the topical route [86%]. The present study observed that timolol was associated with maximum adverse drug reaction. Based on World Health Organization prescribing indicators, the average number of drugs per patient was 1.78, which was within the World Health Organization recommended limit of 2 and falls within the rational use of drugs. Conclusion: Common variant of glaucoma was primary open angle glaucoma. Most commonly used fixed drug combination was BrinzoxT drops. Rational prescribing was observed with minimal errors.

WORLD Health Organization; DRUG side effects; DRUG utilization; TERTIARY care; OPEN-angle glaucoma; GLAUCOMA

Journal of Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, 2023, Vol 12, Issue 2, p109

2278-1889

Academic Journal

10.4103/jdrntruhs.jdrntruhs_195_22