A Cross-Sectional Investigation of Antihypertensive Prescribing Trends with Pharmacoeconomic Assessment and Digital Health Integration Strategies

Abstract

Knowledge of trends in antihypertensive drug use and price variability in particular regional settings is still vital in making policy decisions. Digital health tools offer new prospects to aid medication adherence, but their incorporation with pharmacoeconomic data needs to be explored further. This observational study will involve 350 antihypertensive prescriptions dispensed in community and hospital pharmacies in Ernakulam district, Kerala, between January 2022 and December 2025. Demographic patient details (age, gender), prescription details (drug group, formulation, branded or generic), and pricing information were extracted. Drug costs were acquired based on pharmacy billing records and compared with the Current Index of Medical Specialties (CIMS) and Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) ceiling prices. Prescribing trends and the fluctuation of prices were described using descriptive statistics. The cost differentials were computed using absolute and percentage reductions. The research reviewed the current digital health platforms with the aim of identifying functional gaps applicable in the management of hypertension. 53% of 350 prescriptions were given to male patients and 47% to female patients. The age of the patients was 58 years (interquartile range: 51-67 years). The most commonly prescribed agents were telmisartan (28% of prescriptions) and cilnidipine (14%). Fixed-dose combinations accounted for 15 percent of all prescriptions. The price decreases of 42.9 to 56.1 in relation to branded alternatives were demonstrated by generic formulations. An example is that generic telmisartan 40 mg costs 52.3% less than branded versions (40 40 mg) (52.3% discount). Adverse drug reactions of mild nature (dizziness, fatigue, and others) were observed in 7 percent of prescriptions. The analysis of current digital health platforms (PharmEasy, Tata 1mg, Netmeds) showed that they lacked a built-in cost-comparison tool, adverse drug reaction reporting system, and personalized adherence tracking features. Substantial cost reductions are achievable through generic antihypertensive prescribing in this setting.