Utilization of antihypertensive medications among the critically ill patients

In the medical intensive care unit (ICU) extensive pharmacologic interventions is necessary to stabilize critically ill patients. In patients with cardiovascular illnesses, pharmacotherapy is the primary line of management. We evaluated the utilization pattern of antihypertensive drugs and their adverse effect profile among the inpatients in the ICU. An observational study was carried out in medical ICU of a tertiary care hospital in South India. The medical records of all inpatients of the ICU were reviewed over a period of twelve months. The demographic data, clinical data, and drug details were recorded. WHO Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical classification system was used to classify drugs. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out. A total of 337 patients received antihypertensive medications among 728 patients. The most commonly prescribed drug class was calcium channel blockers 117(34.7%), beta-blockers 83(24.6%) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors 73(21.6%) represented the major classes. Amlodipine (C08CA01) was the single most commonly prescribed antihypertensive drug (32.6%). Anti-hypertensive polytherapy was noticed in 295(87.5%) prescriptions. A wide spectrum of antihypertensive medications was utilized from various drug classes.