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Research Article
CHARLES NII KWADE OFEI-PALM
KBTH: Korle Bu Teaching Hospital
Corresponding Author
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Introduction
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. In Ghana, 19.4% of all blindness recorded is due to glaucoma. Reducing intraocular pressure medically (using eye drops) is the evidence-based therapeutic option
Objectives
To determine the rational use and undertake cost analysis of anti-glaucoma drugs among patients attending clinic at the Lions International Eye Centre, Korle bu Teaching Hospital (LIEC).
Methods
In this cross sectional study, we reviewed all prescriptions presented to the pharmacy unit from 01/12/015 to 31/03/2016. The dispensed drops were classified and all anti-glaucoma drugs were identified. This was followed by cost analysis.
Results
A total of 588 prescriptions were captured, 27.3% (161/588) contained an anti-glaucoma medication. The mean number of anti-glaucoma medications was1.71 of which 52.7% was prescribed to females.Prostaglandin analogues were the most prescribed (37% (102/276)), followed by beta blockers (25.4% (70/276)), carbonic anhydrase group of medicines (16.3% (45/276)), combined beta blockers (11.2% (31/276)), alpha agonists (8.7% (24/276)) and miotics (1.4% (4/276)). The median (IQR) average cost of anti-glaucoma therapy per prescription per month was GHC 65.00 (GHC38.5-GHC140). Azopt (Brimonidine) was the most expensive with daily treatment cost of GHC 5.8 (about US$ 1.45), whilst the least expensive drug with a daily treatment cost of GHC 0.14 (about US$ 0.035) was timolol eye drops.
Conclusions
Prostaglandins analogues remain the most preferred treatment for managing glaucoma at the Korle-Bu Eye Centre in Ghana but are also the most costly. This may adversely affect treatment among the poor since prostaglandins are currently not reimbursed.
Keywords
Cost analysis, Anti glaucoma therapy, rational drug use, Korle bu, Ghana
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This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Research Article
CHARLES NII KWADE OFEI-PALM
KBTH: Korle Bu Teaching Hospital
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 08 Mar, 2021
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Introduction
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. In Ghana, 19.4% of all blindness recorded is due to glaucoma. Reducing intraocular pressure medically (using eye drops) is the evidence-based therapeutic option
Objectives
To determine the rational use and undertake cost analysis of anti-glaucoma drugs among patients attending clinic at the Lions International Eye Centre, Korle bu Teaching Hospital (LIEC).
Methods
In this cross sectional study, we reviewed all prescriptions presented to the pharmacy unit from 01/12/015 to 31/03/2016. The dispensed drops were classified and all anti-glaucoma drugs were identified. This was followed by cost analysis.
Results
A total of 588 prescriptions were captured, 27.3% (161/588) contained an anti-glaucoma medication. The mean number of anti-glaucoma medications was1.71 of which 52.7% was prescribed to females.Prostaglandin analogues were the most prescribed (37% (102/276)), followed by beta blockers (25.4% (70/276)), carbonic anhydrase group of medicines (16.3% (45/276)), combined beta blockers (11.2% (31/276)), alpha agonists (8.7% (24/276)) and miotics (1.4% (4/276)). The median (IQR) average cost of anti-glaucoma therapy per prescription per month was GHC 65.00 (GHC38.5-GHC140). Azopt (Brimonidine) was the most expensive with daily treatment cost of GHC 5.8 (about US$ 1.45), whilst the least expensive drug with a daily treatment cost of GHC 0.14 (about US$ 0.035) was timolol eye drops.
Conclusions
Prostaglandins analogues remain the most preferred treatment for managing glaucoma at the Korle-Bu Eye Centre in Ghana but are also the most costly. This may adversely affect treatment among the poor since prostaglandins are currently not reimbursed.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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