Combination Therapy in Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending Outpatient Department in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: Assessing anti-diabetic drug use patterns in hospitals is an important activity which helps to promote the rational use of drugs and may suggest measures to change prescribing habits for the better. This study aimed to find the prevalence of combination therapy in diabetes mellitus patients attending the outpatient department of a tertiary care centre. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 201 diabetes mellitus patients in the internal medicine department from 2 March 2022 to 30 June 2022 for a duration of four months after approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Protocol No: IRC-LMC-01/R-022). Diabetic patients prescribed at least one anti-diabetic drug in prescription forms were included. Socio-demographic profiles, clinical characteristics and anti-diabetic drug use pattern-related data were collected. Convenience sampling was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. RESULTS: Among 201 patients, 134 (66.66%) (60.14-73.18, 95% Confidence Interval) patients were given combination therapy. The most common combination therapy was metformin 500 mg and sitagliptin 50 mg. A total of 324 anti-diabetic drugs were used. The average number of drugs prescribed per patient was 1.6±0.7. The number of anti-diabetic drugs prescribed by generic name and from the national essential drugs list was 74 (22.83%) and 188 (58.02%) respectively. Biguanides were used in 176 (87.56%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: These findings were similar to some other studies conducted in similar settings. In most patients, combination drug therapy was commonly used. Among combination therapy, two drug combinations were more prevalent.