Analysis of Prescription Pattern of Anti-diabetic Medications in a Teaching Hospital in North India

This retrospective observational study aimed to comprehensively analyse the clinical profile and treatment modalities of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who were treated at a tertiary care centre.

The study included a cohort of 300 individuals who sought medical care at the hospital from January 2023 to January 2024. The analysis primarily examined parameters such as the mean number of anti-diabetic medications per prescription, the proportion of various categories of anti-diabetic medications prescribed, the predominant class and type of anti-diabetic medications prescribed, and the proportion of anti-diabetic medications prescribed from the essential drug lists.

The age distribution demonstrated that 52.0% of participants were above 60 years old, showcasing a substantial elderly representation. Gender distribution emphasized a male predominance at 65.0%, highlighting potential gender-specific implications in type II diabetes. The blood profile analysis of patients with T2DM revealed a range of values for key parameters. Fasting blood glucose levels ranged from a minimum of 101 mg/dL to a maximum of 359 mg/dL, with a mean of 180.01 mg/dl. The comprehensive analysis of anti-diabetic drug utilization, based on the total number of units prescribed, sheds light on the diverse treatment approaches employed for managing diabetes mellitus (DM). Insulin, comprising 31.3% of the total units, plays a pivotal role in glycemic control, with both regular and biphasic formulations contributing significantly at 26.3% and 9.3%, respectively. Among the 300 patients, the overall utilization of anti-diabetic drugs reveals that 38.7% of individuals are using a combination of insulin with oral anti-diabetic drugs, while 61.3% are relying on oral anti-diabetic drugs alone. The most frequently prescribed drug combinations for diabetes management include sulphonylurea with biguanides, emerging as the most prevalent combination with 22 occurrences.

The study's findings contribute valuable insights into the socio-demographic profiles and anti-diabetic drug utilization patterns among diabetes patients.