Drug Utilization Review of Anti-Diabetic Medications and Therapeutic outcome in type 2 Diabetes in a Tertiary Hospital in Northern Nigeria
Comfort O. Olurishe , Steven S. Gyang , Temidayo O. Olurishe , and Titus T. Shekarau
Pharmacy Department, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika-Nigeria
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Jos, Jos-Nigeria
Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Comfort O. Olurishe
e-mail: comfortolurishe@yahoo.com Telephone : +234 802 355 0257
ABSTRACT
Background: Attainment of therapeutic goals in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) necessitates the rational use of drugs, given the wide options available and the presence of co-morbid diseases.
Objectives: To evaluate the drug utilization parameters and short- term outcome of pharmacotherapy in T2DM patients attending a tertiary hospital in Northern Nigeria.
Methods: Data was obtained from the folders of outpatients that attended clinic between June 2010 and June 2011 using a structured proforma and analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi square.
Results: The mean number of drugs per prescription was 5.29 ± 0.09, while drugs prescribed from the Essential Drug List were 48.1%. Generic, proprietary prescriptions and fixed dose combinations were 66.72%, 33.27% and 5.91% respectively. The number of encounters with an injection and an antibiotic, were 18(16.38%) and 19 (17.27%) respectively. There was a therapy change in 71.9%, whereas 29.1% had a same drug same dose prescription. Metformin-glibenclamide therapy was most utilized (53.27%). There was no statistically significant difference between the outcome of therapy in patients with initial poor glycaemic control and those with optimum glycaemic control. Hypertension was the commonest co-morbid disease (86.1%) with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors being most prescribed (72.52%) antihypertensive drugs.
Conclusion: Utilization of anti-diabetic agents was rational. However outcome of therapy in patients studied could still be improved by close monitoring of patient factors that may affect efficacy and encouraging patients’ adherence.
Key words: Drug utilization, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Metformin-glibenclamide therapy