Pharmacoepidemiological, Pharmacoeconomical and Pharmacovigilance studies at an eye care hospital in Kerala

Abstract

Ophthalmology is one of the medical specialties in which there is a high difficulty in continuous diagnosis, assessment and treatment. With this study we pondered upon three major areas of pharmacy practice. Pharmacoepidemiology, Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacovigilance. The work is an open, non- comparative, observational study at Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital in Kerala for about 10 months. About 300 patients were included depending on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results obtained include out- patients 174(58%) are more than in-patients. From data, majority of patients(46%) are reported to be in age group >60years.. About 62% are males. The most common eye condition is cataract (48%). Eye drops (96%) were found to be the most used dosage form. The majority utilize antibiotics (94%). Three drugs (38%) are mostly prescribed by ophthalmologists. The average cost of the prescription to be Rs.368.75. Pharmacovigilance study, found that ADRs occur in about 9.66% (29) of patients which include eye pain, conjunctivitis, eyepruritis, headache and foreign body sensation. From the study, we concluded outpatients are the major category in eye care hospital. Most of the patients utilizing eye care hospital are above 60 years. Male patients account to be the major category in eye care hospital. Cataract leads to be the major eye disease. Most the patients utilize eye drops in the eye care hospital. Antibiotics are found to be a most utilized category of drugs in eye care hospital. Most physicians prescribe three drugs per prescription in the eye care hospital. Some percentage of ADRs occurs with ophthalmic drugs.