Jing Tang, Yue Liang, Gende Li, Weifeng Shi and Cheng Gui
Background: Chronic hepatitis is a major health problem that can lead to decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and, eventually death, all of which are associated with significant healthcare costs. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the use of antivirals among hospitals in Shanghai, China, between 2009 and 2013. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the main types and manufacturers, dosages, defined daily dosages (DDDs), sales volumes, and proportions of total sales of antivirals among 105 sample hospitals in Shanghai, China, from 2009 to 2013. Results: During 2009 to 2013, antivirals experienced rapid growth rates in sales compared to the growth rates of sales of all drugs combined (2009: 34.92% vs. 21.31%; 2010: 12.35% vs. 10.63%; 2011: 22.51% vs. 9.47%; 2012: 18.8% vs 10.98%; 2013: 11.15% vs. 8.57%). Although the proportion of all drugs that were antivirals was small, the proportion increased each year, from 1% of all purchases in 2009 to 1.10% in 2010, 1.23% in 2011, 1.57% in 2012, and 1.89% in 2013. Conclusion: Sales of anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) nucleoside drugs, such as lamivudine, entecavir, adefovir dipivoxil, and telbivudine, showed rapid upward trends. These drugs occupied the top rankings in terms of sales volume and dosage among the 105 sample hospitals. The antiherpes drugs valaciclovir and ganciclovir also showed upward trends, whereas stavudine, acyclovir, and penciclovir showed downward trends. The use of antiviral medications, especially those for HBV, in Shanghai, China, has shown consistently strong growth in terms of sales and dosage.
