Current trends in highly active anti-retroviral therapy in an anti-retroviral therapy centre attached to a remote government medical college of Maharashtra, India: a retrospective study

Background: Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) became the keystone of national AIDS program. There is lack of awareness and inadequate training about drug safety monitoring among health care professionals in India. Hence, the present study was carried out to study current trends in HAART and pattern of associated adverse drug reactions.Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at an anti-retroviral therapy (ART) Centre. A total of 151 HIV/AIDS Patients (old and new cases) receiving HAART during July 2015 to December 2015 were randomly included in the study. Causality and severity assessment of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) was done by using Naranjo’s ADR causality scale and modified Hartwig and Siegel scale respectively. The data was computed using MS Excel and descriptive results were expressed as counts and percentages. The study was approved by institutional ethics committee.Results: The prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection was higher in adult males (51.66%). Zidovudine+lamivudine+nevirapine (ZLN) was the most commonly prescribed HAART combination. Out of 132 ADRs reported, 76.52% of the ADRs were related to haematological system and ZLN was the commonest combination causing ADRs. 90.91% ADRs belong to possible category on causality assessment and 68.94% of the ADRs were of moderate severity. Tuberculosis (28.47%) was the commonest diagnosed opportunistic infection among the HIV/AIDS patients.Conclusions: The prescribing pattern of HAART regimens was in accordance with national guidelines for antiretroviral therapy. We recommend a pharmacovigilance system for sustainable management of ADRs in HIV/AIDS patients as we found under reporting of ADRs

Prescription pattern in indoor patients of cardiovascular diseases: a descriptive study in a tertiary care hospital attached to a government medical college

Background: In India, one of the leading causes of death is cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The study of prescription pattern ensures rational pharmacotherapy and assures quality medical care to the patients. Hence the present study was conducted to observe the prescription pattern of drugs among the indoor patients of cardiovascular diseases in a tertiary care hospital attached to a Government Medical college.Methods: A retrospective observational study of 9 month duration was undertaken from January- September 2015. A total number of 113 indoor cardiovascular disease patients’ case sheets were utilized for our study from medicine and ICCU department of a tertiary care hospital. The data was analysed and the results were expressed as counts and percentage.Results: Of 113 patients, most of the patients were of the age group of 56-65 years (40.71%). The prevalence of CVDs was higher in females (56.64%) than males (43.36%). Hypertension (58.41%) and Ischemic heart disease (41.59%) were found to be predominant CVDs. Nifedipine (53.10%), Atenolol (31.86%), Isosorbide dinitrate (40.71%), Atorvastatin (53.10%) were the most commonly prescribed cardiovascular drugs. Aspirin and Clopidogrel combination was prescribed in 46.90% of CVD patients. The average number of drugs per prescription was 6.53.Conclusions: The present study shows that most of drugs were prescribed rationally according to the current treatment guidelines except the under use of ACEIs and ARBs in hypertensive diabetes mellitus patients. Standard treatment guidelines should be circulated among practicing physicians to encourage rational prescription

Current trends in highly active anti-retroviral therapy in an anti-retroviral therapy centre attached to a remote government medical college of Maharashtra, India: a retrospective study

Background: Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) became the keystone of national AIDS program. There is lack of awareness and inadequate training about drug safety monitoring among health care professionals in India. Hence, the present study was carried out to study current trends in HAART and pattern of associated adverse drug reactions.Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at an anti-retroviral therapy (ART) Centre. A total of 151 HIV/AIDS Patients (old and new cases) receiving HAART during July 2015 to December 2015 were randomly included in the study. Causality and severity assessment of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) was done by using Naranjo’s ADR causality scale and modified Hartwig and Siegel scale respectively. The data was computed using MS Excel and descriptive results were expressed as counts and percentages. The study was approved by institutional ethics committee.Results: The prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection was higher in adult males (51.66%). Zidovudine+lamivudine+nevirapine (ZLN) was the most commonly prescribed HAART combination. Out of 132 ADRs reported, 76.52% of the ADRs were related to haematological system and ZLN was the commonest combination causing ADRs. 90.91% ADRs belong to possible category on causality assessment and 68.94% of the ADRs were of moderate severity. Tuberculosis (28.47%) was the commonest diagnosed opportunistic infection among the HIV/AIDS patients.Conclusions: The prescribing pattern of HAART regimens was in accordance with national guidelines for antiretroviral therapy. We recommend a pharmacovigilance system for sustainable management of ADRs in HIV/AIDS patients as we found under reporting of ADRs