Jul-Sep, 2012 - Indian Journal of Pharmacy Practice

Mohammed S.S - The Prevalence of Polypharmacy in South Indian Patients: A Pharmacoepidemiological Approach.therapeutic category of drugs. Prevalence of short termtherapy was high with gastrointestinal and infectious diseaseswhereas long term therapy was prominent withcardiovascular and respiratory diseases. TheTable 7.1 and 7.2represents the length of hospital stays for different therapeuticcategory.DISCUSSIONPolypharmacy was a frequent condition in Indian populationespecially among elderly population. Polypharmacy mainlydepends on the type of the disease and co-morbidconditions.The majority of drug users exposed topolypharmacy exhibited a very heterogeneous pattern of drugcombination and mostly individual subject to majorpolypharmacy had their own unique drug combination, differfrom all other drug users.Table 6: Therapeutic class Vs Age groupVariableAgeTherapeutic class ≤18 19-60 ≥61(n=44) (n=840) (n=119)Cardiovascular System Nil 235(27.98%) 32(26.89%)Infections 16(36.36%) 195(23.21%) 12(10.08%)Gastrointestinal System 11(25.00%) 143(17.02%) 24(20.17%)Respiratory System 2(4.55%) 126(15.00%) 16(13.45%)Central Nervous System 8(18.18%) 89(10.60%) 23(19.33%)Endocrine System Nil 17(2.02%) 6(5.04%)Musculoskeletal System 2(4.55%) 16(1.90%) 3(2.52%)Dermatology 5(11.36%) 3(0.36%) 3(2.52%)Obstetrics and Gynecology Nil 16(1.90%) NilTable 7.1: Therapeutic class Vs Hospital stays(Minor Polypharmacy)VariableLength of hospital stay forMinor PolypharmacyTherapeutic category ≤1 week 1-2 week ≥2 week(n=258) (n=117) (n=28)Cardiovascular System 52(20.63%) 23(19.66%) 3(10.71%)Infections 58(23.02%) 17(14.53%) 6(21.43%)Gastrointestinal System 70(27.78%) 17(14.53%) 10(35.71%)Respiratory System 32(12.70%) 38(32.48%) 3(10.71%)Central Nervous System 18(7.14%) 22(18.80%) 4(14.29%)Endocrine System 9(3.57%) Nil 2(7.14%)Musculoskeletal System 12(4.76%) Nil NilDermatology 7(2.78%) Nil NilObstetrics and Gynecology Nil Nil NilTable 7.1: Therapeutic class Vs Hospital stays(Major Polypharmacy)VariableLength of hospital stay forMajor PolypharmacyTherapeutic category ≤1 week 1-2 week ≥2 weekIn this study we used hospital case sheets of patients for theestimation of incidence and prevalence of polypharmacy.Inour study prescriptions were classified into minorpolypharmacy (2 to 4 Drugs) and major Polypharmacy (>5Drugs). Polypharmacy is more prevalent in the age group 19to 60 years. Reason may be increase in the prevalence ofdisease and change in physiology or increase in the number ofelderly population.In the most of the studies of polypharmacyfemale sex and old age have been predictors of polypharmacy,but few studies have not found this correlation. Our resultsshow that there is a higher prevalence of polypharmacyamong the men than women.In our study we found that thelength of hospital stay has shown an increase in majorpolypharmacy compare to minor polypharmacy.Because ofage related changes in pharmacokinetics (i.e., absorption,distribution, metabolism, and excretion) andpharmacodynamics (the pharmacologic effects of a drug),many drugs must be used with particular caution elderlypatients. Our data suggests that prevalence of cardiovasculardrugs and gastrointestinal drugs were more often involved inthe polypharmacy among the elderly population, whileinfectious and cardiovascular drugs were prominent amongyoung individuals exposed to polypharmacy.Based on the knowledge obtained from our study, suggestionsto reduce the problems associated with polypharmacy are asfollows:Ÿ Ask patients to bring all medicines to the counselingcenter (the brown bag approach)Ÿ Restrict pro re nata prescribing(n=296) (n=273) (n=31)Cardiovascular System 89(30.07%) 96(35.16%) 4(12.90%)Infections 76(25.68%) 60(21.98%) 6(19.35%)Gastrointestinal System 39(13.18%) 40(14.65%) 2(6.45%)Respiratory System 26(8.78%) 39(14.29%) 6(19.35%)Central Nervous System 36(12.16%) 29(10.62%) 11(35.48%)Endocrine System 9(3.04%) 1(0.37%) 2(6.45%)Musculoskeletal System 9(3.04%) Nil NilDermatology 4(1.35%) Nil NilObstetrics and Gynecology 8(2.70%) 8(2.93%) NilŸ Encourage physicians to prescribe using evidence-basedmedicineŸ Select a drug that may treat more than one conditionIndian Journal of Pharmacy Practice Volume 5 Issue 3 Jul - Sep, 2012 43