Abstract
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.
Highlights
As an infectious particle without a cell structure but with its own enzymatic system, a virus requires a host cell for replication
Common diseases caused by viruses include epidemic diseases, such as influenza, rhinovirus, measles, mumps, polio, and infectious hepatitis, as well as chronic diseases, such as hepatitis B and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Data regarding antiviral purchases that were reported to the Science and Technology Information Institute of the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) were obtained for 105 sample hospitals in Shanghai, China, for the period from 2009 to 2013
Summary
As an infectious particle without a cell structure but with its own enzymatic system, a virus requires a host cell for replication. Common diseases caused by viruses include epidemic diseases, such as influenza, rhinovirus, measles, mumps, polio, and infectious hepatitis, as well as chronic diseases, such as hepatitis B and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Other common virus-caused diseases are latent infections, herpetic keratitis, sexually transmitted herpes disease, and certain tumors. Due to their parasitic nature, viruses are not easy to treat clinically. Very few antivirals are clinically effective for the long-term treatment of viral diseases. Rapid, and global spread of viral diseases such as influenza, viral hepatitis, and AIDS, the demand for antivirals has sharply increased, promoting the development of new drugs. 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
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
