Abstract:
This study was a retrospective descriptive research. The objective was to
determine drug utilization of diabetic patients and clinical outcomes at Phrae Hospital
(general hospital) and Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital (regional hospital) during
fiscal year 2002-2003. Data of drug use (number of prescriptions per patient per year
and drug expenditure per patient per year) and clinical outcomes (FBS, HbA1C, TG,
LDL, HDL, and BP) were obtained from hospitals electronic databases and medical
chart reviews respectively.
Results revealed that 2,991 and 3,619 diabetic patients at Phrae Hospital were
identified in 2002 and 2003 (53.69% and 27.66% without complications respectively),
whereas diabetic patients at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital were 4,559 and
4,875 (69.97% and 61.60% without complications respectively).
Diabetes complications would increase drug utilization, particularly use of
cardiovascular drugs. In 2003, the number of prescriptions per outpatient per year for
diabetic outpatients with macrovascular, microvascular, and both complications at
Phrae Hospital were 4.14, 6.97, and 8.20 respectively, while for those without
complications it was only 3.57. Drug expenditure per patient per year for diabetic
patients with microvascular, macrovascular, and both complications were 3,291,
4,640, and 6,336 baht respectively, while for those without complications it was only
1,823 baht. For health insurance, government officers had higher drug expenditure per
patient per year than others. When comparing drug expenditure of diabetic patients
between the two hospitals, the regional hospital had higher drug expenditure than the
general hospital. For clinical outcomes, the percentage of patients with good control
of blood sugar and blood pressure was low (35.87%, 31.09%, and 23.63% for FBS,
HbA1C, and BP respectively), while the percentage of patients with good control of
lipid was high (59.02%, 48.72%, and 73.33% for TG, LDL, and HDL respectively).
These findings indicated that diabetic patients with complications used more
drugs and with high expenditure, particularly in regional hospital. Also, the type of
health insurance affected drug utilization. A drug utilization review could be done
from available electronic databases and medical chart reviews that provides useful
information for efficient use of health resources and optimized patient care while
controlling costs