DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN AND DISEASE PROGRESSION IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH COVID-19

Background: The WHO declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak as a global pandemic in March 2020. Since, no specific drugs are currently available for its treatment it is important to document the prescription patterns. Objectives: To evaluate the drug prescribing pattern and assess the disease progression in the patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: It is a retrospective study. Using electronic hospital database, we identified 2302 patients between May 2021 to August 2021. Analysis was done using Microsoft Excel 2007. Results: Out of 2302 patients, 1406 (61.1%) were males and 896 (38.9%) were females. Majority were severe 1001 (43.5 %) followed by mild 664 (28.84 %), moderate 555 (24.1%) and asymptomatic 82 (3.56 %). Majority occurred 853 (37.1%) between51-70 years with slight male preponderance 558 (39.69%). Common co-morbidities were hypertension 666 (28.93%) and diabetes mellitus 482 (20.94 %). Total drugs prescribed were 6,123. Average number of drugs per prescription was 2.66. Corticosteroids 1560 (67.77%) and oxygen 1556 (67.59%) were most commonly prescribed. Piperacillin/Tazobactam was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic 1,153 (50.09%). Injectables used were 4,567 (198.4%). Generic drug prescription was 100%. Most drugs 5,515 (90.1%) were prescribed from NLEM, India, 2015. Inpatient mortality was 241 (10.47%), were predominantly male 190 (13.51%) and severe 167 (16.68%). 1896 (82.36%) were discharged and 165 (7.17%) remained hospitalized. Conclusion: Drug utilization for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 complied with the existing guidelines. Men with severe COVID-19 disease are more at risk for worse outcomes and death.