Drug Therapy Practices in Respiratory Diseases at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Observational Study

Background: Respiratory diseases encompass a broad range of illnesses affecting the lungs and airways, hindering the body's ability to properly breathe and exchange gases. Respiratory diseases can significantly impact a person's quality of life and overall health. Drug therapy practices are essential to optimize outcomes, minimize adverse effects, and promote the appropriate use of medications. Objective: To assess drug therapy practices in respiratory diseases, identify commonly prescribed drugs, categorize them by treatment regimens, and evaluate prescribing practices using WHO indicators. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 162 adult inpatients in the Pulmonary and General Medicine departments of SVRRGGH, Tirupati. for a period of 6 months. Data was collected through patient interview & case record reviews using a structured proforma and analysed by using MS excel and SPSS. Results: In the study, 72.22% were males, with most aged 61–70 years. Pneumonia (16.05%) was the most common diagnosis, followed by COPD with AE. Polypharmacy was prevalent, with an average of 10.37±2.32 drugs per prescription Among the study population, ABG analysis was performed to determine the statistically significant correlations between pH, pO2 and pCO2 (p<0.02). Conclusion: In our study, promoting rational prescribing practices and enhancing patient education are essential to improve therapeutic outcomes.