DRUG USE EVALUATION OF BRONCHODIALATORS IN PAEDIATRICS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

The use of bronchodilators has been increasing for the past few decades. The literatures have reported a high rate of adverse events. It has also been found out that beta-agonists are associated with an increased morbidity and mortality rate. Respiratory tolerance develops due to regular use of beta-agonists, which are widely prescribed in asthma and bronchiolitis also is of major concern.

Objective: To evaluate the rational use of bronchodilator drugs by analyzing the appropriateness of the prescription.

Methodology:            Prospective observational study.

Study site: A 500-bedded Multispecialty Tertiary care Teaching Hospital. Result: In the study population of 133 patients male children were found to be more (58.6 %) than the female children (41.4%) Most of the bronchodilators were prescribed for infants (48.1%). Of the 133 pediatric patients, the major prescription was for SABA (99.2%). Of which the major prescription was for salbutamol (63.2%). Most of the Children with asthma were prescribed with combination therapy of salbutamol and ipratropium (81.3%). In WALRI, patients were prescribed with salbutamol (40.4%) and in acute bronchiolitis, the major prescription was found to be salbutamol and ipratropium combination (70.3%). In 52.6% of the prescriptions bronchodilator were given by nebulization and oral route. 31.6% were given by nebulization. 95.5% of patient was prescribed with antibiotics along with bronchodilators, followed by mucolytics 55.6%. Asthma action plan and patient education were not provided by healthcare providers.