A Study on Prescribing Trends of Drugs in the Management of Bronchial Asthma: A Hospital-Based Study

Apply

A Study on Prescribing Trends of Drugs in the Management of Bronchial Asthma: A Hospital-Based Study

Journal Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY - Year 2018, Vol 6, Issue 1

Abstract

Background: Bronchial asthma is a common allergic condition with varied symptoms and necessitates the attention of the physician especially in acute attacks and poses a challenge to treat. Treatment to overcome the acute asthmatic episodes and control of chronic symptoms, nocturnal, and exercise-induced asthmatic symptoms leaves the physician in a dilemma. Pharmacologic management includes the use of control agents such as inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting bronchodilators (beta-agonists and anticholinergics), theophylline, and leukotriene modifiers. Relief medications include short-acting bronchodilators, systemic corticosteroids, and ipratropium. Aim of the Study: The aim is to study the current prescribing trends of specialists in a tertiary teaching hospital who treat patients’ bronchial asthma as primary or secondary physicians. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in the outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary teaching hospital of Northern Kerala including the Departments of Medicine and Allied specialties over a period of 2 years. The specialties included were Medicine, Dermatology, Chest Diseases, and Psychiatry. 2,99,520 attended the OPD of the four specialty clinics of the hospital over a period of 2 years. 76,608 patients among these were positive history for different types of allergy. 31,194 patients (40.71%) among those patients with a history of various allergy disorders had a history of bronchial asthma. All the case records were accessed from the four specialty departments, and the demographic data were recorded for analysis including age, sex, occupation, history, family history, and drug prescription which includes the drugs prescribed dosage form and frequency. The percentage of all observed data was tabulated. Observations and Results: Salbutamol (β-agonists) + ipratropium bromide (anticholinergic) + levocetirizine + montelukast was the most commonly used combination as bronchodilator in 10287 (32.98%) of the patients. Formoterol + budesonide + fexofenadine + diphenhydramine combination was used in 5893 patients (18.71%). Doxophylline + fexofenadine combination was used in 4134 (13.25%) patients. Budesonide + montelukast + fexofenadine combination was used in 3256 (10.44%) patients. Etophylline + theophylline + levocetirizine combination was used in 2048 (9.97%) patients. Hydrocortisone + theophylline combination was found in 1947 (6.24%) patients. Methyl prednisolone + doxophylline + levocetirizine combination was used in 1001 (3.21%) patients. Dexamethasone + theophylline combination was used in 833 (2.67%) patients. Montelucast + doxophylline combination was used in 1.13% of the patients. Fexofenadine + diphenhydramine combination was used in 1.01% of the patients. Levocetirizine + montelukast combination was used in 0.39% of the patients. Conclusions: Combination therapy in the treatment of both acute and chronic types of bronchial asthma was found to be popular among the consultants of different specialties who treat the condition. The most common combination used in this study was salbutamol (β-agonists) + ipratropium bromide (anticholinergic) + levocetirizine + montelukast.

Authors and Affiliations

Iftekhar Ahmed Nazeer, Sabir Cholas

Keywords

Allergy Asthma Bronchial asthma Bronchodilator Bronchospasm Lung function tests

Epidemiological Factors in Breast Cancer and to Evaluate the Diagnostic Accuracy of Fine-needle Aspiration Cytology and Imprint Cytology in Palpable Breast Lump

Introduction: Breast cancer is of extreme public health importance, as it represents one of the leading causes of cancer morbidity and mortality in women. It accounts for 27% of all malignant neoplasms in American women...

EP ID EP478610
DOI -
Views 124
Downloads 0