Objectives: To study the therapeutic efficacy and drug related problems in patients with type two diabetes mellitus & hypertension in out-patient clinical practice.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted for a period of eight months. Out-patients who are above 18 years of age of either sex wiith type 2 diabetes & hypertension and who receives at least one anti-diabetic drug and anti-hypertensive drug of general medicine department were reviewed. The drug related problems were classified into different categories; untreated indication, sub therapeutic dosage, over dosage, failure to receive drug, adverse drug reaction, improper drug selection, drug-drug interaction, drug use without indication and others. Results were expressed as frequency or percentage.
Results: A total of 98 drug related problems were identified in 87 patients. The most common drug related problem identified in our study was Potential drug-drug interactions (23.3%); out of this 8 major drug interactions, 20 moderate interactions and 7 minor interactions were Identified. The therapeutic efficacy of anti-diabetic drugs were 25% and anti-hypertensive drug were 15%.
Conclusion: Drug related problems were frequently observed in type 2 diabetes with hypertension patients. Early detection of types and pattern of DRP can improve the treatment and reduce the number of DRPs in T2DM patients with hypertension
Keywords: Drug related problems, Type two diabetes mellitus, and hypertension