Drug-related problems (DRPs) in hypertensive patients at Karsa Husada Batu Hospital, East Java, Indonesia: Evaluation based on drug selection

Background: Hypertension significantly contributes to premature deaths globally. Drug selection has a vital role in the success of hypertension treatment, but incorrect selection could promote Drug-related problems (DRPs). Objective: This study evaluates DRPs based on the drug selection of inpatient hypertensive patients at Karsa Husada Batu Hospital, which is located in East Java, Indonesia. Method: This study was an observational study with a retrospective research design. The cases of DRPs were classified using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) DRP classification tool V9.1. This was total sampling research with the population of medical records of patients with hypertension without complications who were hospitalised at Karsa Husada Batu Hospital in 2018-2021. Result: This study involved 66 patients’ medical records. The DRPs of the drug selection occurred in 47 patients (71.21%), including 15 cases of drug use that did not comply with guidelines, 34 cases without indication for the drug used, 51 cases of improper combination of drugs, nine cases of inexact duplication of the therapeutic group, and 31 cases of no adequate drug for existing indication. Conclusion: Inappropriate drug combinations are the primary cause of DRPs based on drug selection, and there are no cases in which too many drugs are prescribed for an indication.