MORBIDITY PROFILE AND MEDICATION PATTERNS AMONG PRIMARY HEALTH CARE OUTPATIENTS IN INDIA

Introduction: Information of morbidity and treatment pattern in primary health care set up helps in formulating a strategic plan for betterment of services in a developing country like India. This study was hence done to find out the most common morbidities which primary care physicians encounter among outpatients, to analyze the risk factors associated and the drugs commonly prescribed for these conditions.

Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was done in various health centres/clinics in South Canara distict, India. Data was collected by interviewing out patients using a pretested semi-structured interview schedule.

Results: Mean age of 100 participants was 45.2±22.1 years. The common morbidities were hypertension (38%) followed by diabetes mellitus (19%) and malaria (12%). Hypertension was seen among greater proportion of patients who were aged above 60 years (P<0.001), females (P=0.007), rural dwellers (P=0.002), semi-skilled workers (P=0.009), from lowest socio economic status (SES) (P=0.032) and overweight/obese (P<0.001). Diabetes mellitus was seen among greater proportion of patients who were aged above 70 years (P=0.007), those with sedentary occupations (P=0.003), upper SES (P<0.001) and obese (P=0.032). Malaria was seen among greater proportion of males (P=0.032) and unskilled workers (P=0.027). Most common drugs prescribed were antihypertensives (38%) followed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (33%). Out of 100 patients, 28 were referred to higher centres for reasons like need of specialist consultation 8(28.6%), further investigations 18(64.3%) and for surgical procedures 4(14.3%).

Conclusion: Non communicable diseases were the most common morbidities identified in this study. Hence NCD clinics need to be set up at these centres. Primary care physicians can play a key role to minimize the various modifiable risk factors identified so as to reduce burden of these diseases in these settings.