A survey of prescription pattern of anti-diabetic drugs on diabetic patients with cardiovascular complications within Dhaka metropolis

Background: This survey study was designed to analyze the current prescription pattern of anti-diabetic drugs that used in diabetic patients with cardiovascular complications within Dhaka metropolis. Methods: The present study has been conducted by out-patient department in a number of well-known general and specialized government and private hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh for 5 months. 1200 prescriptions and questionnaire were randomly evaluated for this present survey. A standard questionnaire was prepared, containing 17 different questions, to conduct the survey based on patient’s demographic data such as which type of diabetes they have contained, age, gender, education and their self-assessment of health, disease history and medication. Results: Among the patients involved in this study, there were 46% (550) male and 54% (650) female between the ages of 30 and 75 years. Between 46 and 70 years, 19% male and 31% female were found to be diabetic indicating that in this age group female are mostly affected by diabetes. About 2020 antidiabetic drugs were prescribed by the physicians in which 30.43% contained single, 54.16% contained two and 15% contained more than two anti-diabetic drugs. Amongst antidiabetic medications, metformin was the most commonly prescribed drug which was given in 30.69% patients followed by glimepride 10.9%, 5.45% had glipizide, 1% pioglitazone and other drugs. A total of 7.43% drug was prescribed by fixed dose combinations. Highest percentage of male diabetic patients with hypertension (86%), dyslipidemia (100%) and other complications (57%) was found at 75 years of age while no female patients were found under the same condition at the same age. Conclusions: The findings can serve as a guide to choose the formulation and combination of anti-diabetic drugs in this part of the world before developing & marketing any new drug. Therefore it is necessary to create better awareness among people, focus on rational use of anti-diabetic drugs and also motivate our physicians to prescribe the generic drugs.