DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERNS IN OUTPATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS AT THONG NHAT HOSPITAL VIETNAM FROM 2016 TO 2024

Abstract

Osteoarthritis, a chronic musculoskeletal disorder marked by pain, functional impairment, and reduced quality of life—most commonly affecting the knee, hip, and hand—was investigated in this retrospective cross-sectional study analyzing patient characteristics and outpatient medication patterns at Thong Nhat Hospital from 2016 to 2024. Among 40,916 patients identified via ICD-10 codes M16, M17, and M18, the mean age was 59 years, predominantly in the 30–65 and ≥65 groups, with high comorbidity rates especially for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Oral NSAIDs led prescriptions (66.2%), followed by analgesics and topical NSAIDs; co-prescription network analysis revealed oral NSAIDs as central in most combinations, particularly among knee osteoarthritis patients who showed higher polypharmacy than those with other joint involvement. These findings advocate for individualized treatment strategies to enhance osteoarthritis management in the Vietnamese clinical context.