Introduction: Lipid-modifying drugs have been used to treat dyslipidemia as well as for the primary
and secondary prevention of CVDs and stroke. Objectives: This study aims to describe the drug
utilization pattern of lipid-modifying drugs in a private hospital. Method: A retrospective study was
carried out in outpatient of the selected hospital. Patients were selected based on inclusion and
exclusion criteria by using convenience sampling. Data were collected through KCIS by retrieving
patients’ registration number. Defined daily dose (DDD) was calculated and compared to World
Health Organization DDD. Medicine prices were also analysed. Results: A total of 180 patients’
record were analysed, 70% of them were male; 40.6% of the patients were from the age range of 50
to 59 years old; ethnicity breakdown was Malay (69.4%), Indian (18.3%) and Chinese (12.2%).
Among all lipid-modifying drugs, utilization of statins was the highest as statins are the preferred
line in the treatment of dyslipidemia. Innovator brands were more preferred where most of the lipidmodifying
drugs used in the selected hospital are innovator brand drugs. In terms of cost, lipidmodifying
drugs contributes to about 27% of the total cost of prescription in average. Conclusion:
The utilization of all lipid-modifying drugs in the selected hospital was lower as compared to WHO
DDD. As compared to combination therapy, monotherapy with atorvastatin was generally preferred
in the selected hospital. The utilization of atorvastatin was found to be the highest in the OPD of the
selected hospital.