RISK ELEMENTS AND DRUG UTILIZATION IN STROKE PATIENTS

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Cerebrovascular accident (CVA), formally called as stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Recent studies in different parts of India also documented that the prevalence of stroke varies from 40 to 270 per 100,000 populations. Identifying the risk factors of the disease helps to improve the effectiveness of the therapy. Our present study aims in accessing the risk aspects and utilization of drugs in CVA patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective Interventional study was carried out on stroke patients in Medicine Department, Viswabarathi Hospital, Kurnool, AP from January to September 2015. Required demographic and laboratory data, along with general neurological evaluation and brain CT was analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 100 patients was analyzed. Among them, the incidence of ischemic stroke (96%) was greater compared to hemorrhagic stroke (4%). Prevalence of disease was higher in males (69%) than females (31%) with notable occurrence in the age group of 61-70 (26%). Higher percentage of patients were found to have&gt;3 risk factors (34%), including hypertension (68%), age (58%), diabetes (39%), smoking (22%), alcoholism (21%), CAD (10%) and percentage with no risk element accounts7%. The prescribing pattern includes antihypertensives (16.25%), Gastrointestinal agents (12.2%), anti-platelets (9.16%), hyperlipidemic (8.4%), Nootropics (7.97%) followed by other classes and nitrates (0.62%) occupies the last place in prescribing.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The present study emphasizes on the need to identify risk factors and providing awareness among the patients by a pharmacist in minimizing the disease burden. It also points the rationality in prescribing of drugs based on therapeutic guidelines.</p>