A study on prescribing patterns in hemodialysis and renal transplantation patients

Background Patients treated with hemodialysis and renal transplant require complex therapy regimens that manage comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and so on; as a result, they may develop drug-related issues. Inappropriate medication usage raises the risk of drug related problems, which can manifest as excessively extended hospital stays, higher expenses, and overuse of medical services. Prescribing pattern among the patients treated with hemodialysis and renal transplantation are not well characterized previously. Objectives The objective of the study is to investigate drug prescription trends in hemodialysis patients and to study the prescribing patterns of medications in kidney transplantation patients. Materials and methods The prospective observational study was conducted over a period of 8 months, i.e. from October 2021 to June 2022 in end stage CKD patients treating with maintenance hemodialysis and renal transplant. Different classes of drugs prescribed and percentage of drugs per prescription was estimated in this study. Data were analyzed descriptively. Results 105 patients recruited have been analyzed of which 76 (72.38%) were male and 29 (27.6%) were female. Polypharmacy (use of ≥5 medications) was observed in 91.5% in hemodialysis patients and 100% in renal transplant patients.The most prescribed drugs in hemodialysis patients were Cardiovascular Drugs 72 (100%), and in renal transplant patients, immunosuppressant were highly prescribed 33 (100%). Conclusion This study concludes that the cardiovascular agents and immunosuppressant were the most common drugs prescribed among the hemodialysis and renal transplant patients respectively. polypharmacy among overall patients were observed and it may initiate drug related problems.