A STUDY ON THE PRESCRIBING PATTERNS OF DIPEPTIDYL PEPTIDASE 4 INHIBITORS IN A MULTI DISCIPLINARY HOSPITAL COMPLEX BIRDEM, BANGLADESH

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the current prescribing pattern of dipeptidyl peptidase 4
(DPP-4) inhibitors in a multi disciplinary hospital complex-BIRDEM, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The
study was a retrospective descriptive analysis of consecutive patients prescribed with DPP-4
inhibitors and attending the diabetic clinic. Patient data was collected in relation to drugs
prescribed and diabetic complications to evaluate the prescribing pattern of DPP-4 inhibitors as
a new kind of antidiabetic drug. During the study, prescription of 150 patients of diabetes was
reviewed. It was identified that prescriptions with (DPP-4) inhibitors was 51.3% whereas
prescriptions with other hypoglycemic drugs was 48.6%. Sitagliptin (60%) was the most
prescribed drug. The most commonly prescribed combinations were Metformin and DPP4
inhibitor (44%) as 2nd line agent, Metformin + Sulphonylureas + DPP4 inhibitor (24%) as
3rd line agents. Our evaluation revealed the most commonly prescribed DPP-4 inhibitor to be
Sitagliptin. Through our review it was found that though DPP-4 inhibitors are recently
approved drugs and launched in Bangladesh, physicians are more prone to prescribe this
molecule rather than other traditional hypoglycemic drugs.