PRESCRIPTION ANALYSIS AND COST MINIMIZATION STRATEGIES IN HOSPITALIZED DIABETES PATIENTS

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is among the most common metabolic diseases in the world that is typified by chronic hyperglycemia caused by the malfunctioning of insulin secretion, insulin constraints or a combination of both. Patients with diabetes often need to be hospitalized because of acute complications, comorbidity, or in case of intensive glycemic control, the global burden of DM has also been increasing. The patients who are hospitalized with diabetes are often faced with complicated treatments that involve combination of pharmacologic treatments based on oral hypoglycemic drugs, insulin, and other adjunctive pharmacologic treatments like dietary and physical activities and education to the patients. This medication difficulty exposes patients to the danger of polypharmacy, drug-drug interactions, medication mistakes, and huge healthcare expenses. Prescription analysis has become a tool that is vital in the management of hospitalized diabetic patients. It allows clinicians and pharmacists to detect irrational drug use, maximize pharmacotherapy, and improve clinical outcomes and minimize unnecessary costs. Through the systematic review of the patterns of prescription, healthcare professionals may evaluate the appropriateness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of the used medications. Another area of value is cost-minimization, such as rational prescribing, generic substitution, and the implementation of fixed-dose combinations, which will help to restrict the economic burden, although patient care should not be affected. Also, the interventions led by pharmacists, including medication therapy management and clinical auditing, have been reported to enhance adherence, avoid adverse drug events, and aid in making evidence-based decisions. The combination of technology, such as computerized prescription auditing and the system of decision support systems powered by AI, presents additional ways of maximizing drug use and minimizing expense. Pharmacoeconomic analyses in practice, multicenter cost-effectiveness trials, and care models can be used to provide strong evidence to support policy and clinical practice. The purpose of the review is to critically discuss prescription pattern analysis and cost-minimization of hospitalized patients with diabetes and to provide emphasis on the rational use of drugs, generic prescription use, pharmacoeconomic assessment of the selected problem, and the important role of clinical pharmacists in the provision of safe, effective, and cost-conscious care.