PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF DRUGS USED IN MANAGEMENT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL ? A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract: This study was conducted about the prescription pattern of drugs used in rheumatoid arthritis includes obtain information about various anti-rheumatoid drugs prescribing pattern, to calculate the average number of anti-rheumatoid drugs per prescription and to find out the drug-drug interaction present in the each prescription. The study is conducted in the orthopaedics department of VMKVMCH in Salem district, Tamil Nadu between months of November 2014 to April 2015. The data is collected from the case records and the information is recorded on age, gender, associate illness, articular manifestations, laboratory measurements and study of prescription, which include DMARDS, STEROIDS, NSAIDs and the type of combinations.The results showed that, RA was commonly seen in female patients. Out of 150 patients 13(8.6%) patients were males and 137(91.3%) patients were females. The present study also revealed that RA commonly occurred in average age of 50.07±10.49. Combination therapy was preferred over monotherapy in the management of RA, in that 3 drug and 5 drug therapy was most preferred over other combinations. The overall drug usages in this study revealed that a total of 552 drugs were prescribed. Out of which, Hydroxychloroquine was most prescribed [111(20.10%)] followed by Paracetamol in [103(18.75%)], Diclofenac in [88(15.94%)], sulfasalazine in [86(15.57%)], methotrexate in [41(7.42%)], methylprednisolone in [40(7.24%)], Aceclofenac in [21(3.80%)], tramadol and the combination of Seratopeptidase in [17(3.07%], prednisolone in [13(2.3%)], sodium chondrotinsulfate and sodium hyalourate in [4(0.7%)], Ibuprofen, Chloroquine and indomethacin in [2(0.3%)], patient. Among this 150 patients, 15 cases with co-morbidities like hypertension in 9(60%), diabetes in 4(26.66%), and asthma in 2(13.34%) patients Out of 150 cases maximum number of interactions occurred with 5 drug therapy [88(47.06%)] and least with 2 drug therapy Out of 150 patients the most of the interactions were occurred in the 5 drugs therapy and least with 2 drug therap. Hence it also proves that whenever the Polypharmacy is there, it also increases the chance of drug-drug interactions.