A study of prescription pattern in the drug therapy of chronic kidney disease

Objectives: a) To analyze the pattern of drug prescription for chronic kidney disease and its co-morbid conditions, if exist. b) To study the rationality of drug therapy.

Methodology: Over a period of 1 year, the discharge-summary records of 188 patients with CKD, admitted to nephrology wards of Justice K. S. Hegde Charitable Hospital, Mangaluru, were scrutinized and the data collected in a specially designed proforma. Descriptive analysis of the data was done.

Results: Of the total 188 patients, 101(53.7%) were males and 87 (46.3%) females. Highest numbers of patients were in the age group of 58-67 years (29.3%). Hypertension was the most common co-morbidity (82%) observed, followed by anaemia (54.8%) and type 2 diabetes (43%). A total of 1436 drugs were prescribed to 188 CKD patients. Each patient received an average of 7.6 drugs. Polypharmacy was seen in all patients. Drugs acting on the cardiovascular system constituted the bulk of the prescriptions (31%) followed by nutritional Supplements (15.3%), haematinics (10.7%) and the drugs acting on gastrointestinal system (10.3%). Other important categories of drugs prescribed included antimicrobials (5.8%), antiplatelets and hypolipidaemic agents (5%), antidiabetic drugs (4.7%) and phosphate binders (4%).

Conclusion: This study shows that the management of chronic kidney disease in the nephrology department of Justice K. S. Hegde Charitable Hospital, is in congruity with the rational utilization of medicines which is based on the clinical knowledge, expertise and the guidelines accessible in the field of nephrology practice.

Rational prescription; chronic kidney disease; nephrology

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