Prescribing trends of glaucoma drugs in six major cities of China from 2013 to 2017

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227595
• Publication Date: 2020-01-13T13:26:57Z
• Authors: Lingyan Yu; Kai Ding; Lifang Luo; Zhenwei Yu
• Keywords: Travoprost; Bimatoprost

Objective To evaluate the prescribing trends of glaucoma drugs in six major cities China from 2013 to 2017. Methods A descriptive analysis using pharmacy prescription data was conducted. Outpatient extracted Hospital Prescription Analysis Cooperative Project. Prescribing patterns, visits, and corresponding expenditures for medications were analyzed. Results total 84297 ambulatory prescriptions included current study. Visits by patients increased 13808 20060 Over same period, yearly expenditure 2.33 million 3.95 Chinese Yuan (CNY). Among all classes (prostaglandin analogues, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α-receptor agonists, β-receptor antagonists, cholinergic agonists fixed combinations), antagonists most commonly prescribed 2013, accounting 34.3% patients, but gradually decreased 27.1% Prostaglandin analogues became frequently 2017, 30.2% visits. are expensive yielded a 2.34 CNY followed combinations, agonists. Combination therapy increasingly Conclusion Glaucoma practices exhibited substantial changes over study period. The number continuously leading costs. These findings implied similar trend observed previous studies, as well recommendations appropriate guidelines.