AGE AND GENDER-BASED UTILISATION PATTERN OF ANTIDIABETIC DRUGS IN AJMAN, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Diabetes is a chronic multi-system metabolic disease associated with significant morbidity, mortality and cost to the society. Socio-demographic factors like age and gender may affect prescribing pattern. The objective of the study was to evaluate the drug usage pattern of antidiabetic drugs in different age groups and gender. A cross sectional survey of all prescriptions of patients with diabetes attending the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Internal Medicine of Gulf Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Ajman, United Arab Emirates was conducted for three months. The socio-demographic and drug information for each patient was obtained using a questionnaire. A total of 132 prescriptions were included in this survey whereby 54.8% of patients were males and 45.2% were females. The mean age of patients with diabetes was 54.09±10.24 years. Hundred twenty eight prescriptions were for patients with type 2 diabetes. Metformin alone and in combinations were the commonly prescribed antidiabetic drug. Insulin prescription was noted in 14 patients (type 1 and 2 diabetes), the commonest being human insulin. Metformin combinations were most commonly prescribed in both genders. For patients below 45 years and those between 45–60 years of age, metformin combinations were the commonest prescribed, while among patients above 60 years of age sulfonylureas were the most commonly prescribed. The utilisation pattern of antidiabetic drugs varied among different age groups and gender. Metformin alone and combinations with newer antidiabetic medications were commonly utilised.