INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH CARE · Apr 4, 2026
Pharmacoepidemiological Evaluation of Rosuvastatin Utilization and Clinical Outcomes in Cardiovascular Patients: A Prospective Observational Study
By Tahrannum SS, Diyanaka G, Greeshma MN et al.
ABSTRACT Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, with dyslipidaemia and hypertension serving as major modifiable risk factors. Rosuvastatin, a potent HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, is widely utilized for both primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, real-world evidence on its utilization patterns, prescribing behaviour, and clinical outcomes in routine clinical practice remains limited. Objective: To evaluate the demographic characteristics, clinical indications, prescribing patterns, and therapeutic outcomes associated with rosuvastatin use in a tertiary care setting. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 250 patients receiving rosuvastatin. Data on demographic variables, clinical indications, departmental distribution, treatment modalities, dose utilization, and clinical outcomes (blood pressure and glycaemic status) were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Chi-square (χ²) test was applied to assess the association between clinical indications and prescribing patterns. Results: The majority of patients were aged 51–60 years (31.2%), with a predominance of individuals ≥50 years (68.4%). Gender distribution was nearly equal (male: 49.2%, female: 50.8%). Hypertension was the most common indication (50.8%), followed by hypertension with coronary artery disease (36.0%). Departmental analysis showed that most patients were managed in General Medicine (80.4%). Non-surgical management predominated (64.0%), highlighting the preventive role of pharmacotherapy. The most frequently prescribed dose was 10 mg (61.2%), indicating adherence to guideline-recommended initial dosing. A significant proportion of patients achieved normal blood pressure (53.2%), while 89.6% exhibited abnormal glycaemic status. The distribution of clinical indications was statistically significant (χ² = 85.12, df = 3, p < 0.0001), indicating targeted and evidence-based prescribing. Conclusion: Rosuvastatin prescribing in the present study demonstrated a rational, guideline-concordant pattern, predominantly in middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension and cardiovascular comorbidities. The findings highlight the importance of individualized pharmacotherapy, especially in patients with multimorbidity. Clinical pharmacist involvement is essential for optimizing treatment outcomes through medication therapy management, pharmacovigilance, and patient-centered care. Keywords: Rosuvastatin, Drug utilization, Cardiovascular disease, Dyslipidaemia, Clinical pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy, Real-world evidence