PREVALENCE AND PRESCRIBING TRENDS IN STABLE ANGINA IN LAHORE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Stable angina is widespread diseases in Pakistan so; this study was designed to evaluate the prescribing trends and to find out the most prescribed drug in Stable angina in public sector hospital Lahore, Pakistan and assessing its prevalence in both genders. The purpose of the study was to identify the therapeutic agents being prescribed majorly in Pakistan and to analyze that whether the current prescription patterns are in accordance with evidence based guidelines. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January-2015 to April-2015, through collection of data from prescriptions of patients suffering from stable angina in public sector hospitals of Lahore Pakistan. Data observations from the total 200prescriptions collected from the hospitals of Lahore graphically demonstrated the trends of drug classes per prescription. Results: The study identified that in the treatment of stable angina Antiplatelet are the most frequently prescribed drug class in Lahore and adjacent areas. Followed by CCBs on 2nd rank and nitrates on 3rd rank, ACE inhibitors and ARBs on 4th number, after which statins occupy the 5thposition, lastly comes the position of beta blocker i.e. 6th and diuretics are the least prescribed class. Conclusion: The anti-platelet blocker drugs were the most prescribed drug class followed by calcium channel and vasodilators occupying the second and third rank respectively. The study also revealed that men are 1.5 times more vulnerable to the development of angina than the females. The study is also showing sound evidence that there is need to follow guidelines for proper treatment. Key words: Stable angina, prescribing trends, prevalence, treatment strategies.