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Drug utilization study in geriatric patients visiting the outpatient department in tertiary care rural hospital.

Aim & Objective:The study aimed to evaluate the disease pattern, drugs used & the prescribing patterns to the geriatric patients at rural hospital.
Materials and Methods: A total of 300 patients were enrolled in the prospective, cross sectional study. The demographic details, drugs used
condition for which the drugs were prescribed and other related factors; names by which they were prescribed, use of fixed dose combinations were
recorded and subjected to analysis.
Observation and Results: Enrolled patients belonged to the age between 65 to 74 years, who presented with cardiovascular (21.22%) followed by
musculoskeletal conditions (17.44%). Medicines were mostly prescribed by brand names 72.11%, Ranitidine was most frequently prescribed
followed by Aceclofenac. About 20.35% were prescribes as FDCs for ex; Aceclofenac + Paracetamol was most commonly prescribed FDC
followed by Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid.
Conclusion: Cautious use of medicines in geriatric patients is essential which can be provided by rational prescribing.