Rational Drug Use in Anemia: A Retrospective Analysis from Southern India

A BSTRACT Background: Anemia is a major public health problem in India, disproportionately affecting females, adolescents, and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. Despite national strategies, progress in reducing anemia remains slow, highlighting the need to examine prescription appropriateness, treatment patterns, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and clinical outcomes in real-world clinical settings. This study evaluated rational drug use and treatment effectiveness among anemic patients at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Southern India. Materials and Methods: Aretrospective observational record-based study was conducted from April to June 2025, reviewing 1780 case records of patients diagnosed with anemia between January 2023 and December 2024. Data on demographics, severity (World Health Organization [WHO] and National Family Health Survey-5 [NFHS-5] classification), etiology, treatment modalities, hematological outcomes, and ADRs were collected from hospital records. Results: Among 1,780 patients, 72.02% were female and 27.98% male, with the highest proportion representing children and adolescents. Mild anemia was most prevalent (45.8% WHO; 44.9% NFHS-5). Iron-deficiency anemia accounted for 60.11% of cases. Oral iron therapy was the most frequently prescribed treatment (70.00%), followed by parenteral iron (10.00%) and blood transfusion (6.01%). Significant improvements were noted in mean hemoglobin (8.4 ± 1.2–10.6 ± 1.1 g/dL) and hematocrit (28.0% ±4.0% to 34.0% ±3.0%). A total of 917 ADRs (51.5%) were reported, predominantly black stools (12.02%), constipation (10.00%), and nausea (7.98%). Conclusion: Oral iron therapy showed strong clinical effectiveness with mostly mild and manageable gastrointestinal ADRs. Enhancing pharmacist-led counseling and adherence strategies may further improve patient outcomes and reduce treatment discontinuation.