Drug utilization

Background : Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Drug utilization studies provide valuable information regarding prescribing practices, rational drug use, and medication adherence. Comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension often complicate cardiovascular disease management and may influence prescribing patterns. Objective: To evaluate drug utilization patterns and medication adherence among cardiovascular disease patients with associated comorbidities receiving treatment in a private hospital in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over six months (February-July 2026) involving 65 adult patients diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases. Data regarding demographics, diagnosis, comorbidities, prescribed medications, dosage regimen, route of administration, laboratory parameters, and medication adherence were collected using a structured case record form. Descriptive statistical methods were used for analysis. Patient adherence was assessed before and after counseling interventions. Results of the 65 patients enrolled, 61.5% were male and 38.5% were female. The majority belonged to the 61-70 years age group. Acute coronary syndrome (41.5%) was the most common cardiovascular condition. Telmisartan (36.9%) was the most frequently prescribed antihypertensive drug, atorvastatin (58.5%) the most commonly prescribed hypolipidemic agent, and clopidogrel (49.2%) the leading antiplatelet medication. Digoxin (41.5%) was the most utilized ionotropic drug, while vildagliptin (30.7%) was the predominant antidiabetic agent among patients with diabetes. Medication adherence improved substantially following counseling, increasing from 59.3% to 84.6%. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the predominance of atorvastatin, clopidogrel, and telmisartan in cardiovascular disease management. Acute coronary syndrome was the most frequently encountered diagnosis. Patient counseling significantly improved medication adherence, emphasizing the importance of pharmacist involvement and rational prescribing in optimizing treatment outcomes among cardiovascular disease patients with comorbidities.

Antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed drugs in hospitals. In developed countries, around 30% of the hospitalized patients are treated with antibiotics. Rational uses of drugs have attained more significance in present days in terms of medical, socio economical and legal aspects [1]. Pharmacists play a vital role in promoting the rational use of medicines. Medicines (drugs) cannot be used rationally unless all health care professionals involved in the pharmaceutical supply chain has access to know the complete information therapeutic indications of the drugs This study was carried out to collect patient’s relevant demographic information which includes Age, Sex, Occupation, Date of admission, Date of discharge, History of present illness, past medical history, Diagnosis and prescription drugs [2]. 1) The aim of the research is to study and to determine the prescribing patterns of antibiotics and use of antibiotic (Rational / Irrational) in a tertiary care hospital along with its beneficial and adverse outcomes. 2) Intervene strategies from pharmacist perspective to promote rational use of antibiotics to improve therapeutic outcomes in patients thereby improving quality of life (QOL) of patients [3]. The study was carried at Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences, Shadan Hospital, Hyderabad. Antibiotics are prescribed based on symptoms and laboratory investigations. Antibiotics are indicated for the treatment of bacteriologically proven infections and non-bacteriologically proven infections. It is a single centered, prospective observational study. Subjects of both genders who indicated with antibiotic therapy are taken into consideration and patients who had co morbid pathological conditions also included. Pediatrics, pregnant women and surgical cases were excluded from the study [4].175 patients were collected; 75 were male and 100 were female. Total numbers of antibiotics prescribed are 260. Median duration of hospitalization was 5 days. The most common prescribed antibiotics were Ceftriaxone, Ciprofloxacin, Azithromycin, Amoxicillin+Clavulanic acid, Amikacin & Doxycycline. On assessing the results of study, it was found that prescribed 260 antibiotics accounted for 100%, ceftriaxone indicated was 35% followed by ciprofloxacin was 10 % and azithromycin was 6%. Irrational prescriptions becoming a serious problem in the General medicine department. For the achievement of Rational use of antibiotic to treat infections caused by microorganisms, selection the appropriate antibiotic partly depends on symptoms suffered by the patients. Awareness programs should be launched and seminars should be conducted so as to minimize problems which are common at ward level [5]. News Letters and Drug bulletins about the rational use of antibiotics should be released periodically. Cost effective prescription should be encouraged. Formulation of a policy for hospital antibiotic use and educational programs especially for junior doctors also required.