A Prospective Observational Study of Drug Utilization Evaluation in Pregnant Women at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Pregnancy is a profound physiological change in a woman’s body that requires special care and concern towards the selection and prescription of drugs. Pregnant women are prescribed with a large number of drugs to treat their medical conditions or to help improve their nutritional requirements. The interactions between these prescribed drugs may show effect on their actions and sometimes lead to toxicity. Hence this study is put forth to have an objective of promoting the safe use of drugs and examining the pattern of the drug utilization evaluation and interactions of drugs found while in   use.
Methods:                                           
A prospective observational study on drug utilization Evaluation was conducted in the department of gynaecology at a tertiary care teaching hospital NELLIMARLA, VIZIANAGARAM. Prescriptions of 200 pregnant women were evaluated. The data collected was analysed on an MS –EXCEL sheet.
Results:
Majority of patients 64(32%) belong to an age group between 24-26 years and 64% were PRIMI GRAVIDA. Majority of women (47.15%) were in third trimester followed by second trimester (35%). Out of 200 patients included in the study 152(76%) patients were having at least one co-morbid condition. Most commonly observed condition in this study was hypothyroidism. A total of 1416 drugs prescribed were included, majority of drugs belonged to 523(37%) vitamins, 208(14.16%) antibiotics, 108(7.62%) gastric acid secretion inhibitors and others. According to US-FDA pregnancy risk categories, 40.6% drugs were prescribed from category A, 37.14% drugs were from category B, 17.16% drugs were from category C, and 5.08% drugs were from category D. No drugs were prescribed from category X. Most commonly prescribed drugs in this study were mostly VITAMINS 180(90%) followed by PANTOP 90(40%), METRONIDAZOLE 72(36%), THYRONORM 52(26%), METFROMIN 42(21%).
Conclusion: By the above study conducted, the drug prescription pattern in the current study was found to be rational.
Key words: Drug utilization, pregnancy, US-FDA, interactions.