Prescription Pattern of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients undergoing Hemodialysis in Tertiary and Private Hospital

Objective: To evaluate the prescription pattern of chronic kidney disease patients undergoing haemodialysis in both hospitals. Methods: The study was carried out in a tertiary care and a private hospital for a period of nine months. Chronic kidney disease patients on maintenance haemodialysis for at least one month were included. Details like sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, past medication history, comorbidities and current medications were noted in self-pre-designed Patient Proforma. Mean +/- standard deviation and percentages and relevant statistical tests like Chi-square test was used. Results: Majority of the patients belonged to middle socio-economic class in private hospital and lower-middle class in tertiary hospital. Maximum were unemployed (50.60%, 36%), married (90.36%, 88%) and had high school qualification (62.65%, 45.33%). About 78 (93.97%) patients were covered with insurance/health scheme in tertiary hospital and 39 (52%) in private hospital. Hypertension was found to be the leading cause in tertiary and private hospital. Calcium channel blockers (77.10%, 53.30%) were highly prescribed in both the hospitals. Erythropoietin (69.80%), calcium acetate (21.70%) and anti-diabetics (Insulin 10.84%) in tertiary hospital, whereas newer and costlier drugs like Darbepoetin, Iron preparations and Lanthanum carbonate were prescribed in private hospital. Conclusion: Socioeconomic status led to variation in prescription patterns among both hospitals as newer and costlier drugs like Lanthanum carbonate, Sevelamer and Darbepoetin were prescribed only in private hospital.