STUDY OF PRESCRIPTION PATTERN ANALYSIS OF DRUGS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to analyse the prescription pattern of Rheumatoid arthritis in a tertiary care hospital in India.

Methodology: The study was conducted in 180 patients of Rheumatoid arthritis who were given various forms of therapy and fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was collected in case report format and the prescription pattern was analysed using patient’s demographic details, presence of comorbidities, usage of complementary and alternative medicine, details of drugs prescribed with dosage and combination therapies

Results: The results of this study showed that DMARDs were the most commonly prescribed drugs out of which Methotrexate was the preferred drug. Monotherapy was given in 34.5% of patients while DMARD dual combination was given in 61% of patients which contributed to the majority of the prescription. A triple DMARD therapy was given in only 4.5% of patients. Methotrexate was the most commonly prescribed DMARD either in monotherapy or in combination and constituted 87.6% of prescriptions 

Combination therapy of Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine covered the maximum number of prescriptions (68%). Sulfasalazine and Leflunomide were given in 29% and 3% of patients respectively. The prescriptions also included NSAIDs, Calcium and Vitamin D3 supplements as most common additional drugs followed by PPIs. Corticosteroids like Prednisolone were given in 12.5% of patients and were mostly preferred in long standing and refractory cases.

Conclusion:

Methotrexate is the most prescribed DMARD, often used in combination to enhance efficacy. DMARD combination of Methotrexate and HCQ was the most commonly used regimen compared to monotherapy and triple-drug therapy.