Determinants of drug-related problems among ambulatory type 2 diabetes patients with hypertension comorbidity in Southwest Ethiopia: a prospective cross sectional study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess drug-related problems and its determinants in type 2 diabetes patients with hypertension co-morbidity. RESULTS: A total of 300 type 2 diabetes patients with hypertension co-morbidity were studied. The majority of participants, 194 (64.7%), were males. Mean age of the participants was 54.44 ± 11.68 years. The mean durations of diabetes and hypertension were 5.37 ± 4.79 and 5.15 ± 4.65 years respectively. The most commonly prescribed antidiabetic medications were metformin in 200 (66.7%) and insulin 126 (42%) of the participants. Enalapril was the most commonly prescribed antihypertensive medication; 272 (90.7%). Aspirin was prescribed to 182 (60.7%) participants. Statins were prescribed to one-third (65.67%) of the participants. Eighty-five (28.3%) participants had diabetes related complications other than hypertension. A total of 494 drug related problems were identified. The mean number of drug related problems was 1.65 ± 1.05. The most common drug related problems were need for additional drug therapy (29.35%), ineffective drug (27.94%) and dose too low (15.8%). Independent predictors of drug related problems were age 41-60 years (AOR = 6.87, 95% CI 2.63-17.93), age > 60 years (AOR = 5.85, 95% CI 2.15-15.93) and the presence of comorbidity (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.11-8.16).