ABSTRACT Patients with chronic kidney disease require careful selection and dosing of drugs to prevent drug interactions, adverse effects and further renal damage. The objective of this study was to evaluate and assess the prescription pattern of drugs used in chronic kidney disease patients. Data of all the in-patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease was collected from the case sheets available at the Medical Records Department of our hospital. Out of the 448 patients, there were 237 (53%) males and 211 (47%) females. 45.98% people were between the age group of 46-60 years. Totally, 298 patients had anemia, 116 had diabetes mellitus, 157 had hypertension, 103 had cardiovascular diseases and 72 patients had other associated comorbid conditions. 84.83% had stage 5 chronic kidney disease. Total number of drugs prescribed were 3132 out of which 533 (17.01%) vitamins, 470 (15%) anti ulcer drugs, 417 (13.32%) diuretics, 309 (9.87%) antibiotics, 260 (8.3%) antiemetics, 228 (7.28%) antihypertensives, 211 (6.74%) antihistamines, 211 (6.74%) antiplatelet drugs and 202 (6.44%) antidiabetics were commonly used. 2518 (80.39%) drugs were taken by oral route and 493 (15.75%) drugs were taken by injection. According to WHO drug prescribing indicators, an average of 7.2 drugs were prescribed per encounter, percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was 4.43%, percentage of encounters with antibiotics prescribed was 64%, percentage of encounters with injection prescription was 48%, and percentage of drugs from the National list of Essential Medicines (NLEM) was 12.86%. Out of the 3132 drugs, 551 (17.59%) were given as fixed dose combinations. This study shows the current prescribing practice of nephrologists for hospitalized patients with chronic kidney disease. Due to multiple aetiologies and comorbid conditions, the polypharmacy noted is inevitable. Clinicians have to be made intellectually aware of prescribing generic drugs from the National list of Essential Medicines to rationalise drug therapy.
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