Title:Assessment of Drug Usage Pattern among Bronchial Asthma Patients in a
Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital, Tamilnadu: A Cross-sectional Study
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Author(s): Kala Paneerselvam*, Kiran Belur and Jamuna Rani Raveendran
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology, SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Chengalpet,
Tamilnadu, 603203, India
Keywords:
Inhalation route, airway inflammation, β2 agonist, corticosteroids, asthma, chest tightness.
Abstract:
Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the small airways. Chronic
inflammation often causes hyper responsiveness of airways with wheezing, breathing difficulty,
cough and chest tightness.
Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the drug usage pattern of anti-asthma drugs among
asthma patients.
Methods: The present study was a prospective, observational cross-sectional study carried out
among 422 outpatients being treated at the respiratory medicine department, SRM Medical College
Hospital and Research Centre. Data regarding the prescribing indicators and patient indicators
were collected from the patients’ prescription slips and entered in the preformed proforma. Prescribing
indicators were taken into consideration in evaluating the rationality of prescriptions.
Results: In the present study, 49% of patients were between the age group of 20-40 years. Genderwise
distribution showed 58.05% of males and 41.95% of females. A family history of asthma was
seen in 68% of the study population. The present study reported smoking among 51% and tobacco
chewing in 21% of the study population. Low economic strata were observed in 77.9% of the study
population. According to asthma grading, 65.8% were in the mild intermittent, and 25% were in
the mild persistent group. Patients were on β2 agonists (35.4%) and corticosteroids (32%). The
most commonly used fixed drug combination was a short-acting β2 agonist with corticosteroid
(40.5%). A total of 68% of drugs were used by the inhalational route and 29% by the oral route.
Conclusion: The findings showed that, the most frequently prescribed drug was a short-acting β2
agonist with corticosteroid in a fixed-dose combination via inhalational route.
