Abstract

STUDY ON ASSESSING THE PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF DRUGS, RISK FACTORS AND SYMPTOMS IN ISCHEMIC STROKE PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Dr. Megha Mary Jose*, Nikitha Shaji, Shify Ann Varghese, Abicy Susan Biju and Alpha Elizabeth Rajeev

Abstract

Background: According to World Health Organisation stroke is defined as ‘a clinical syndrome consisting of rapidly developing clinical signs of focal disturbance of cerebral function lasting more than 24 hours or leading to death with no apparent cause other than vascular origin’. Stroke is one of the major cause of mortality worldwide. Objective: The study focused to assess the prescribing pattern of drugs, risk factors and symptoms in ischemic stroke patients. Materials and methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital over a period of six months. A total of 75 patients were included in the study. Results: In this study majority of the patients were treated with antiplatelets (90.6%) followed by antihypertensives (78.6.%). The most commonly prescribed monotherapy was mannitol (14.1%) and the most frequent combination therapy was aspirin +clopidogrel(23%). Right hemiparesis (36%) was the most predominant clinical manifestation. The common risk factors for ischemic stroke was found to be hypertension (78%), diabetes mellitus (26%) and smoking (22.6%). Conclusion: The findings in our study stress the need for early and appropriate management of stroke to prevent further complications. Pharmacists are in a key position to provide pharmaceutical care to stroke survivors, adequate patient education and initiate or recommended appropriate pharmacotherapy were indicated.

Keywords: Ischemic stroke, Prescribing pattern, Drugs.