Patterns of Drug Therapy Among Diabetic Hypertensive Patients - A Single Center Study in Bangladesh

Hypertension is extremely prevalent in patients with diabetes. Limited data exist on whether patterns of drug therapy among diabetic hypertensive patients are consistent with evidence-based practice guidelines. There are many variations in prescribing patterns of diabetic hypertensive patients needs much care while choosing drugs. We have very limited research-based information regarding the patterns of drug therapy among diabetic hypertensive patients. The aim of this study was to assess the patterns of drug therapy among diabetic hypertensive patients. This retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, Uttara Adhunik Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from January 2000 to December 2020. In total 78 diabetic hypertensive patients treated in the mentioned hospital were enrolled in this study as study subjects. As per the inclusion criteria of this study, only those patients who got at least one anti-diabetic and one anti-hypertensive drug in treatment were included. Proper written consents were taken from all the participants before data collection. All data were processed, analyzed and disseminated by using MS Excel and SPSS version 23.0 program as per necessity. In this study, the male-female ratio of the participants was 1.3:1. The mean ±SD age (Year) and BMI (Body Mass Index) (Kg/m<sup>2</sup>) of our participants were 53.2 ±6.82 and 32.41 ±2.49 respectively. For our patients, 87% and 13% drugs were used through oral and parenteral routes respectively. In this study, among all of our participants, as antihypertensive drug therapy, in 49%, 36% and 15% cases mono, duel and triple antihypertensive drugs were used respectively. In this study, among all of our participants, as anti-diabetic drug therapy, in majority of the patients, mono-therapy was used whereas, in 24% cases double and in 10% cases triple drug therapy was used. Majority of the diabetic hypertensive patients are treated by mono antihypertensive and mono antidiabetic therapy. The treatment cost of insulin receiving patients are higher than that of other diabetic hypertensive patients.