A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study on Drug Utilization in Patients Admitted with COVID-19 in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Roja Rani58432*, Karuna Sree P58433 and Usha Sree TS58434

Background: COVID-19 infection has become a global pandemic, and there is no specific treatment for it. To fight against the virus, a plethora of medicines are repurposed without clinical data which includes paracetamol to Steroids. During the pandemic many antibiotics, antiviral and steroidal drugs along with multivitamins were prescribed, it is crucial to identify trends of prescribing and determine rational medication use.

Methodology: It’s a retrospective observational study conducted at ESIC Medical College Hospital for a period of 3 months (August-October 2020). The data was collected from the medical records department. Demographic details of the patient, clinical information and information of drug usage was collected. Rationality of prescription assessed by using WHO core drug prescribing indicators. Data analysis was done in descriptive method by using Mean, standard deviation and percentages.

Results: Out of 100 case sheets 83 patients’ data was analyzed among which 64% were males, average age was 45 ± 11.8. Average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was eight. Drug prescribed by generic name was 65%, 78% patients received antibiotics followed by 62% injectable steroids and 42% of injectable anticoagulants, 72% of patients received injections and 71% patients received oral antibiotics. Total 14.8% of prescriptions have fixed dose combinations and the average duration of hospital stay is 8 days.

Conclusion: Due to sudden emergence of COVID-19 and lack of preparedness many drugs were irrationally utilized leading to poly pharmacy to overcome life threatening conditions. Now when evidence is available from multicentre international trails unnecessary use of drug should be avoided.

Most Viewed Articles
  • Dental Development between Assisted Reproductive Therapy (Art) and Natural Conceived Children: A Comparative Pilot Study Norzaiti Mohd Kenali, Naimah Hasanah Mohd Fathil, Norbasyirah Bohari, Ahmad Faisal Ismail, Roszaman Ramli SRP. 2020; 11(1): 01-06 » doi: 10.5530/srp.2020.1.01
  • Psychometric properties of the World Health Organization Quality of life instrument, short form: Validity in the Vietnamese healthcare context Trung Quang Vo*, Bao Tran Thuy Tran, Ngan Thuy Nguyen, Tram ThiHuyen Nguyen, Thuy Phan Chung Tran SRP. 2020; 11(1): 14-22 » doi: 10.5530/srp.2019.1.3
  • A Review of Pharmacoeconomics: the key to “Healthcare for All” Hasamnis AA, Patil SS, Shaik Imam, Narendiran K SRP. 2019; 10(1): s40-s42 » doi: 10.5530/srp.2019.1s.21
  • Deuterium Depleted Water as an Adjuvant in Treatment of Cancer Anton Syroeshkin, Olga Levitskaya, Elena Uspenskaya, Tatiana Pleteneva, Daria Romaykina, Daria Ermakova SRP. 2019; 10(1): 112-117 » doi: 10.5530/srp.2019.1.19
Most Downloaded
  • Dental Development between Assisted Reproductive Therapy (Art) and Natural Conceived Children: A Comparative Pilot Study Norzaiti Mohd Kenali, Naimah Hasanah Mohd Fathil, Norbasyirah Bohari, Ahmad Faisal Ismail, Roszaman Ramli SRP. 2020; 11(1): 01-06 » doi: 10.5530/srp.2020.1.01
  • Manilkara zapota (L.) Royen Fruit Peel: A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review Karle Pravin P, Dhawale Shashikant C SRP. 2019; 10(1): 11-14 » doi: 0.5530/srp.2019.1.2
  • Pharmacognostic and Phytopharmacological Overview on Bombax ceiba Pankaj Haribhau Chaudhary, Mukund Ganeshrao Tawar SRP. 2019; 10(1): 20-25 » doi: 10.5530/srp.2019.1.4
  • A Review of Pharmacoeconomics: the key to “Healthcare for All” Hasamnis AA, Patil SS, Shaik Imam, Narendiran K SRP. 2019; 10(1): s40-s42 » doi: 10.5530/srp.2019.1s.21
  • A Prospective Review on Phyto-Pharmacological Aspects of Andrographis paniculata Govindraj Akilandeswari, Arumugam Vijaya Anand, Palanisamy Sampathkumar, Puthamohan Vinayaga Moorthi, Basavaraju Preethi SRP. 2019; 10(1): 15-19 » doi: 10.5530/srp.2019.1.3