Antihypertensive agents in systemic hypertension associated with Type 2 diabetes in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are both chronic disorders and when they occur as co-morbidities create havoc by presenting with a plethora of morbidity and mortality. Both require drug treatment over a long period of time, which calls for stringent analysis of prescribing trends of the same.Objectives: The present study was intended to analyze prescribing pattern and establish prescribing trends of anti-hypertensive drugs (AHD) in hypertensive diabetic patients.Methods: The present study was a record based, randomized, non-interventional study of 2 years duration conducted at a tertiary care hospital of central India. Prescriptions from 400 case records of hypertensive diabetics were obtained from the medical record section. Demographic details, blood pressure, and AHDs prescribed were systematically entered in pre-validated case record form. All data were thoroughly analyzed for fallacies and appropriateness.Results: Among 400 patients, 221 were males, and 179 were females. Monotherapy was used in 366 (91.5%) patients while combination therapy was used in 34 (8.5%) patients. Most commonly used combination was angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)+calcium channel blocker (CCB), while in monotherapy CCB≥ACEI>beta blocker>diuretic>angiotensin II receptor blocker were most commonly prescribed.Conclusion: The present study represents trend and attitude of physicians in prescribing AHDs. On comparing with Joint National Committee 7 guidelines, the majority of the cases deviated from the guidelines, mostly in a choice of AHDs and Fixed dose combination.