A Prospective Observational Study on Clinical Safety and Efficacy of Medications Used for the Treatment of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) and liver diseases contribute significantly to global morbidity and remain a major challenge in clinical practice. The present study was conducted to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of medications used in the management of gastrointestinal and liver disorders in a tertiary care hospital setting. This prospective observational study included 60 patients admitted to Gleneagles Hospital, Hyderabad, over a period of six months. Patient demographics, disease characteristics, co-morbidities, social history, prescribed medications, adverse drug reactions, disease severity, and treatment outcomes were documented and analyzed. Among the study population, 44 (73.4%) were male and 16 (26.6%) were female, indicating male predominance. The majority of patients belonged to the age group of 21–30 years (23.3%), followed by 31–40 years (16.7%). Co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension were common, observed in 18 and 16 patients respectively. Social history revealed that 33 patients had habits such as smoking or alcohol consumption, which may have contributed to disease progression. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was the most frequently reported GI disorder, while hepatitis was the most common liver-related disease. Polypharmacy was observed in 45 patients receiving more than six drugs. Hospital stay was less than six days in 32 patients, reflecting favorable recovery in most cases. However, severe outcomes including life-threatening conditions and fatalities were noted in a small proportion. The findings highlight the burden of GI and liver diseases and emphasize the importance of early diagnosis, rational drug therapy, and continuous monitoring of adverse drug reactions to improve clinical outcomes and patient safety.