The Journal of Phytopharmacology, 2013;2(5): 38-45 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2013.2506

Research Article

Screening of prescriptions in geriatric population in a tertiary care teaching hospital in north India

Neha Sharma¹ , Uma Advani² , Shobha kulshreshtha³ , Rahul Parakh¹ , Alka Bansal⁴ , Rajeev R Sinha¹

Neha Sharma,Uma Advani,Shobha kulshreshtha,Rahul Parakh,Alka Bansal,Rajeev R Sinha

1. Dept of Pharmacology, NIMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
2. Senior Demonstrator, Dept of Pharmacology, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
3. Prof and Head, Dept of Pharmacology, NIMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
4. Assistant Professor, Dept of Pharmacology, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Abstract

The objective of our study was to assess the pattern of prescribing prescriptions and cost analysis among the geriatric patients attending the Medicine Outpatient Department of NIMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur. After taking permission from the Institutional Ethical Committee, prescriptions of 235 geriatric patients attending the medicine outpatient department of NIMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, were noted and demographic profile, commonly prescribed drugs as per Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification (ATC) and WHO core indicators were assessed after taking written informed consent from the patients. Out of 235 patients, 130(55.31%) were males and 105(44.68%) were females and most of the patients were in the age group of 81-85 for males 65-70 for females. Maximum number of patients were having cardiovascular diseases (n=196) followed by respiratory disorders (n=172) and musculoskeletal diseases (n=153). 89 patients (38%) were having three comorbid conditions. Average number of drugs per prescription was 5.51(1296/235). Drugs on WHO EML were 546 while on NLEM was779. Drugs prescribed by generic names were 31.94%, is less than that prescribed by their brand names 68.05%. Average cost per prescription was INR 18.75 per day. Drugs prescribed as fixed dose combinations were 324. Drugs acting on cardiovascular system (n=356) were the most commonly used drugs in our study followed by antibiotics (n=127) and bronchodilators (n=126). Thus irrational prescribing and polypharmacy were prevalent among elderly.