A study on drug prescription pattern of antihypertensives in hypertensive patients with related comorbidities

Background: Hypertension (HTN) or high blood pressure is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. Hypertension is a cardiovascular disease that is not sufficiently prevented and controlled at both hospital and community levels. This has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality. Hypertension related complications manifest as target-organ damage which include cardiovascular disease and are the primary causes of the death in hypertensive patients. Organ systems adversely affected by the hypertension include heart, brain, kidneys, peripheral arterial disease and eyes. Objectives: The objectives of this work is to study the drug prescription pattern in patients with hypertension and with related comorbidities (DM,STROKE,CKD,CVD) and to study the outcome of therapy in terms of reduction in blood pressure and also to educate the patients about disease and lifestyle adaptations. Materials and Methods: It was a Prospective observational study done over a period of six months (November 2017 to April 2018) in Rajah Muthiah Medical College Hospital, Chidambaram, and Tamil Nadu. The study was approved from Institutional Human Ethics Committee. A 66 samples were collected from the clinically suspected patients diagnosed with hypertension along with comorbidities. The patient’s blood pressure data, prescription dada and other disease conditions of the patient are collected from patient case sheets and recorded into data collection form. Patient prescription and disease conditions were studied to collect the drug usage pattern. Results: The results were obtained from 66 patients with hypertension along with co-morbidities, who were enrolled into the study after fulfilment of the selection criteria described above on obtaining consent from the same. Among the 66 patients, majority were male (59%) as compared to female patients (41%). Overall, 3 patients belong to the age group of 30-39 years, accounting for 4.5% of total. A total of 17 patients belonged to the age group of 40-49 years, accounting for 25.7% in total. A total of 28 patients belonged to the age group of 50-59 years, accounting for 42.4%. A total of 16 patients belonged to the age group of 60-69 years accounting for 24.2%. The remaining 2 patients belonged to the age group of 70-79 years accounting for the 3% of the total patients included in the study. The benefit of blood pressure reduction with Antihypertensive drug treatment has become increasingly evident. Our study shows that Mono therapy was the most common approach in hypertension therapy. Enalapril was the most common drug used in both Mono therapy as well as other combinational therapies of hypertension and its co-morbidities. Cardio vascular disease is the highest prevalent co-morbid condition associated with hypertension accounting for 27.2%.The patients were counsel led about use of medication and life style modifications. As a result of patient counselling, there is a gradual increase in patient health condition in the majority of patients towards better control of disease and Quality of life