Abstract

EVALUATION OF PRESCRIPTION PATTERN IN HYPERTENSIVE PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING THE DEPARTMENT OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY OF GAUHATI MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL

Arijit Dutta*, Chimi Handique and Mangala Lahkar

ABSTRACT

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the prescription pattern in hypertensive pregnant women treated with antihypertensive attending the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Gauhati Medical College Hospital. Method: An observational prospective study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Gauhati Medical College Hospital from April 2014 to Sept 2014 including both outpatient and inpatient cases of hypertension in pregnancy after due approval from Institutional Ethics Committee. Results: A total of 100 prescriptions of hypertensive pregnant women were evaluated. The most commonly prescribed antihypertensive was Nifedepine, followed by Methyldopa and Labetalol. The other drugs prescribed were Frusemide, Amlodipine and Atenolol. Single drug therapy was prescribed in 58% patients. The use of fixed dose combinations was low. Most of the antihypertensive drugs prescribed were from FDA category C and B. Among the other drugs Calcium and Iron and folic acid were most prescribed drugs. WHO core indicators and facility indicators were also analyzed. Conclusion: It was found from our study that the use of anti hypertensive drugs was rational. Most of the prescriptions included single drug therapy with nifedepine and methyldopa.

Keywords: Antihypertensives; Hypertension in Pregnancy; Drug Use Indicators.