Polypharmacy and Comorbidity Status in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetic Patients Attending Tertiary Care Hospitals

Authors

  • Muhammad Hassan Raza University of Lahore, Islamabad Campus, Pakistan.
  • Saira Shahnaz Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nazeer Hussain University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
  • Sidra Riaz Scientific Adviser, Ministry of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Ahsan Iqbal Khan Luqmani HITEC Institute of Medical Sciences, Taxila Cantt, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.
  • Muhammad Amjad Hayat Faculty of Pharmacy, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, KP, Pakistan.
  • Muhammad Arsalan Murtaza Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Sabah Mansoor Department of Allied Sciences, University of Home Economics, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v4i3.2980

Keywords:

Polypharmacy, Comorbidity, Drug Interactions, Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs), Dyslipidemia.

Abstract

Aim: Diabetes is a lifelong disorder, which is markedly affected by day-to-day variations in diet, exercise, infection and stress.  Hence, a thorough knowledge of the disease and how it alters normal body functions and the awareness of its acute and chronic complications is necessary. The present study thus tried to evaluate the comorbid conditions and concurrent medications associated with type 2 diabetic patients. It also aimed to address patient compliance for the medications provided to them. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted for December 2023 to April 2024. Data were collected to determine the comorbidity and polypharmacy impact on patient with type 2 diabetes and also check the side effects, adverse drug reaction, other effects on patient, attending different local hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Results: During the study period, 300 patients range from (15-80years). The majority were the females with (51%), and males were (49%). The mean of age and standard deviation taken from demographics 57.930 and 9.714, similarly mean and standard deviation of gender is 1.51 and 0.51 respectively. The age group less than 30 years is (2%) which is least effected. Age group 31-45 years (8%), 46-60 years is (44%), most effected age group is over 60 years with (46%). The present study evaluated that 86% of individuals with diabetes had at least one coexisting chronic condition. The findings of this study suggest that patients with diabetes who have multiple chronic conditions face a greater risk of polypharmacy the most common being Cardiovascular conditions (68%) and GIT diseases (54%). GI drugs were prescribed to 66% of the patients. The concurrent medications recommended included Alpha blockers (64%), NSAIDS (59%), Diuretics (35%), drugs for Antiepileptics (34%), and Antidepressants (8 %). Conclusion: The present study thus concluded that diabetic patients suffer from a number of comorbid conditions, most commonly, cardiovascular problems. The comorbidity increased with the age. The level of polypharmacy was also high, thereby increasing the pill burden for the patients.

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Published

2026-03-30

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 3 (2026): Indus Journal of Bioscience Research

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Original Article

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How to Cite

Raza, M. H., Shahnaz, S., Riaz, S., Zain Ul Abideen, M., Khan Luqmani , A. I., Hayat, M. A., Murtaza, M. A., & Mansoor, S. (2026). Polypharmacy and Comorbidity Status in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetic Patients Attending Tertiary Care Hospitals. Indus Journal of Bioscience Research, 4(3), 37-42. https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v4i3.2980