Study on prescribing pattern of diuretic agents and occurrence of abnormal electrolyte levels among cardiovascular disease patients in a private corporate hospital

Abstract

Diuretics are used extensively in hospitals and in community medical practice for the management of cardiovascular diseases. A prescription monitoring study for diuretic drugs was undertaken in the cardiology department of a 700 bedded private corporate hospital. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prescribing patterns of diuretics in CVDs patients and assess the abnormalities in electrolyte levels due to diuretic use. Prospective observational study of 9 months duration was undertaken from December 2014 to August 2015. A total number of 133 patients with various CVDs disorders were enrolled in the study. The utilization pattern of diuretic evaluated, loop diuretics were most widely used in patients with CVDs. Electrolyte abnormality in diuretic users were analysed, it was found that 36.09% patients were having hypokalemia followed by hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia. Patients with hypokalemia were categorized into three groups based on potassium level. The results reveal that 48.37% patients were having mild hypokalemia 20.38% were with moderate hypokalemia and 31.25% patients were with severe hypokalemia. The statistical evaluation signifies the association between the age and hypokalemia. The rate of prevalence of hypokalemia was found to be more when the age increases. The present study demonstrated the positive impact on diuretic management and pharmaceutical care in cardiovascular disease patients. The elderly populations are more affected abnormality by diuretic therapy, monitoring of potassium levels in the elderly population was a major factor to reduce the adverse events.