Background & Aims: Drug utilization evaluation (DUE) is used to assess how a drug is prescribed and administered. We studied the use of enoxaparin, a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) which is widely used in cardiovascular patients as prophylactic or curative treatment.

 Materials & Methods: In a retrospective study, medical records of 322 patients admitted to the hospital for nine consecutive months starting from July 2012who had received enoxaparin were reviewed. Purpose of administration and dosage were recorded and compared with published guidelines for enoxaparin administration.

 Results: The mean patient age was 61.15 ± 13.19. 88 patients (27.3%) received enoxaparin for prophylactic and 234 patients (72.7%) received it as curative treatment. Prophylactic dose in 18 patients (20.45%) was according to published guidelines and in 70 patients (79.55%) more than recommended dose. In those patients who had received enoxaparin as curative treatment, in 134 patients (57.27%) it was in accordance with the recommended dose. in 95 patients ( 40.6%) it was less and in 5 patients ( 2.13%) was more than recommended dose. In three patients who had a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 30 ml/min, two patients received more and one patient received less than appropriate dose.

 Conclusion: The results indicate that in a large percentage of patients administered dose of enoxaparin as prophylactic use was more than guideline's recommendations and conversely administrated dose for curative treatment was less than recommended dose. 

  SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2014: 25(3): 246 ISSN: 1027-3727