Volume :
4
Issue :
3
Abstract :
Background and Aim: Hypertension is an important public health challenge because of the associated morbidity and mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases and the cost to the society. Methods and Results: The study group consisted of four hundred patients who attended the outpatient department of Medicine at Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. At base line, patient demographics, family history which includes previous history of hypertension and any other co-morbidity were assessed using the preform. The cost of antihypertensives has to be determined by using the information available from the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL), and National Pharmacy Pricing Authority (NPPA). The salient findings of the study are: 60.5% were females and 39.5% were males. Majority of the patients were under the age group of 60-69 (31.5%), 70- 79 (25%) and 50-59 (22.5%). 50.8% patients were treated with monotherapy and 49.3% patients were treated with combination therapy. During the cost analysis, the mean cost of antihypertensive was found to be Rs.0.30 in monotherapy and in combination therapy it was found to be Rs.1.2. Conclusion: The present study represents the current prescribing trend for antihypertensive agents and it highlights certain shortcomings in the existing prescribing practice.