Pharmacoeconomics and Utilization of Intravenous Iron Sucrose in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Rational utilization of parenteral iron with meticulous calculated doses will promote appropriate utilization of healthcare resources. The aim is to study utilization of intravenous Iron Sucrose at patient level and hospital level. 

This prospective-observational study was conducted over 6 months. Case-records of 125 indoor patients were reviewed for intravenous (IV) Iron Sucrose prescription and patient details and treatment details for patients were procured. 

125 patient records were divided in (Antenatal care and Non Antenatal care) ANC and Non ANC groups; and their Mean age was 36(S.D ± 16) years. IV Iron Sucrose was prescribed the most in anemic pregnant patients 41(32.8%) followed by severely debilitated patients on other injectable drugs 37(6%). The Total administered dose was more than the Standard calculated dose in an alarming 84(67.2%) of the patients. Utilisation of IV iron sucrose in Defined Daily Dose per 100 bed days (DDD/100 bed days) was found to be 0.42 in total patients whereas it was 0.59 in ANC and 0.36 in Non ANC groups. 

This research highlighted that overutilization and administering more than the required dose of IV iron sucrose, could be effectively tackled by calculation of its standard dose by Ganzoni’s formula. Studying the monthly trends and comparing utilization of parenteral iron with the help of DDD/100 bed days by hospitals can help in comparing utilization and also assist for budgetary preparedness of hospitals. There is also a dire need to formulate universally accepted guidelines for the use of parenteral iron in general adult population.