Table 2.
Most commonly used medicines according to age group and prevalence of medicine use per 1000 person-years for 2019–2020
| medication | ATC-code | Age group (years) | All children | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 2 years | 2–5 years | 6–11 years | 12–17 years | |||||||||
| 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | Rate ratio (95% CI)a | ||
| AIA | 1.15 | 3.32 | 5.38 | 12.77 | 26.1 | 67.84 | 34.62 | 40.33 | 16.32 | 35.32 | 2.164(2.069–2.264) | |
| leuprorelin | L02AE02 | 0.03 | 0 | 0.12 | 0.27 | 9.48 | 36.13 | 1.94 | 4.5 | 3.21 | 12.18 | 3.793(3.460–4.159) |
| ATM | 126.75 | 103.38 | 114.58 | 112.46 | 138.94 | 160.35 | 370.08 | 356.8 | 171.96 | 188.7 | 1.097(1.081–1.114) | |
| glycyrrhizin | * | 5.71 | 6.04 | 10.92 | 11.71 | 27.65 | 36.61 | 46.43 | 50.26 | 21.71 | 28.44 | 1.310(1.253–1.369) |
| lansoprazole | A02BC03 | 0.09 | 0 | 0.07 | 0.03 | 0.76 | 0.37 | 25.87 | 33.98 | 5.15 | 8.87 | 1.723(1.582–1.876) |
| pantoprazole | A02BC02 | 0.09 | 0 | 0.08 | 0.03 | 2.75 | 0.51 | 24.62 | 11.02 | 5.5 | 3 | 0.545(0.483–0.614) |
| polyene phosphatidylcholine | * | 0.03 | 0 | 0.07 | 0.14 | 1.56 | 0.7 | 18.59 | 25.94 | 4 | 6.93 | 1.734(1.574–1.910) |
| vitamin B6 | A11HA02 | 21.37 | 14.47 | 15.4 | 9.08 | 12.45 | 5.82 | 11 | 5.29 | 14.66 | 7.81 | 0.533(0.495–0.573) |
| vitamin C | A11GA01 | 29.56 | 19.38 | 21.85 | 12.72 | 17.09 | 7.88 | 12.07 | 5.59 | 19.84 | 10.27 | 0.518(0.486–0.552) |
| BLD | 20.22 | 16.32 | 21.24 | 33.47 | 31.4 | 29.99 | 133.5 | 119.94 | 45.26 | 52.48 | 1.159(1.124–1.196) | |
| alanyl glutamine | B05XB02 | 0 | 0 | 0.04 | 0 | 1.33 | 0.51 | 23.77 | 27.36 | 4.89 | 7.2 | 1.471(1.343–1.612) |
| mecobalamin | B03BA05 | 1.24 | 3.92 | 2.69 | 21.85 | 5.57 | 10.3 | 15.25 | 15.62 | 5.67 | 14.45 | 2.546(2.364–2.742) |
| CVS | 22.64 | 14.86 | 11.66 | 12.14 | 25.75 | 21.05 | 73.82 | 64.85 | 29.32 | 28.76 | 0.981(0.941–1.022) | |
| DRM | 101.4 | 132.04 | 91.97 | 115.79 | 160.27 | 180.64 | 230.11 | 301.05 | 139.72 | 185.2 | 1.326(1.304–1.347) | |
| calamine lotion | * | 28.53 | 33.91 | 19.06 | 20.54 | 13.39 | 13.51 | 2.93 | 3.04 | 15.87 | 15.62 | 0.984(0.930–1.042) |
| fusidic acid | D06AX01 | 0.51 | 5.84 | 0.51 | 4.24 | 0.94 | 6.22 | 5.44 | 32.56 | 1.57 | 12.33 | 7.862(6.968–8.870) |
| selenium sulfide | D01AE13 | 0.06 | 0.66 | 0.04 | 0.93 | 0.27 | 5.74 | 0.83 | 22.56 | 0.26 | 7.92 | 30.581(23.189–40.330) |
| tacrolimus | D11AH01 | 2.21 | 3.38 | 6.53 | 10.75 | 14.04 | 22.62 | 16.6 | 22.04 | 9.95 | 16.3 | 1.639(1.541–1.744) |
| GEN | 6.29 | 4.71 | 1.81 | 1.89 | 3.73 | 3.71 | 24.31 | 19.88 | 7.35 | 7.44 | 1.012(0.932–1.100) | |
| HRM | 100.31 | 68.21 | 132.17 | 88.99 | 116.74 | 78.36 | 94.59 | 87.05 | 115.37 | 82.61 | 0.716(0.700–0.732) b | |
| dexamethasone | H02AB02 | 84.5 | 55.08 | 115.48 | 68.13 | 81.81 | 38.52 | 34.41 | 25.51 | 85.23 | 46.52 | 0.546(0.530–0.562) |
| prednisone | H02AB15 | 5.17 | 5.77 | 7.07 | 10.2 | 12.17 | 16.01 | 20.2 | 23.13 | 10.74 | 14.72 | 1.370(1.287–1.459) |
| INF | 407.43 | 334.62 | 441.96 | 347.49 | 349.05 | 225.77 | 218.64 | 185.25 | 366.82 | 267.22 | 0.728(0.720–0.737) b | |
| azithromycin | J01FA10 | 34.42 | 27.94 | 66.9 | 43.16 | 52.01 | 23.92 | 9.68 | 7.08 | 46.45 | 26.09 | 0.562(0.540–0.585) |
| cefaclor | J01DC04 | 114.51 | 115.59 | 68.86 | 55.44 | 18.03 | 15.28 | 10.1 | 1.85 | 50.15 | 37.21 | 0.742(0.717–0.768) |
| cefazolin | J01DB04 | 16.74 | 26.94 | 16.82 | 25.84 | 12.91 | 13.87 | 9.97 | 6.85 | 14.36 | 17.47 | 1.217(1.150–1.287) |
| cefdinir | J01DD15 | 6.62 | 7.1 | 13.94 | 21.74 | 12.58 | 18.57 | 6.71 | 7.58 | 10.99 | 15.26 | 1.389(1.305–1.477) |
| cefixime | J01DD08 | 11.61 | 11.15 | 52.31 | 47.31 | 83.82 | 62.94 | 36.74 | 36.63 | 52.08 | 44.65 | 0.857(0.830–0.886) |
| cefmetazole | J01DC09 | 11.54 | 36.63 | 16.45 | 51.31 | 11.12 | 33.96 | 1.27 | 7.58 | 11.22 | 32.91 | 2.934(2.788–3.088) |
| ceftriaxone | J01DD04 | 92.78 | 68.75 | 81.88 | 68.37 | 45.86 | 27.04 | 17.81 | 11.12 | 60.92 | 41.17 | 0.676(0.645–0.698) |
| cefuroxime | J01DC02 | 44.91 | 0 | 71.45 | 0 | 58.76 | 0 | 13.39 | 0 | 52.45 | 0 | |
| immunoglobulins | J06BA02 | 30.59 | 15.53 | 7.84 | 3.5 | 4.94 | 1.27 | 3.81 | 1.49 | 9.9 | 3.85 | 0.389(0.351–0.430) |
| minocycline | J01AA08 | 0 | 0.13 | 0.01 | 0.08 | 0.15 | 0.28 | 18.38 | 21.94 | 3.52 | 5.78 | 1.641(1.478–1.822) |
| MSK | 1.90 | 23.22 | 3.64 | 21.47 | 12.06 | 19.86 | 32.16 | 52.38 | 11.23 | 29.17 | 2.598(2.465–2.738)-54) | |
| ibuprofen | M01AE01 | 1.42 | 22.43 | 2.85 | 19.28 | 8.25 | 9.88 | 5.64 | 2.02 | 4.74 | 12.39 | 2.614(2.411–2.835) |
| NRV | 194.33 | 288.77 | 197.95 | 232.41 | 289.84 | 335.31 | 405.66 | 420.76 | 263.68 | 319.28 | 1.211(1.198–1.224) | |
| aripiprazole | N05AX12 | 0.06 | 0 | 1.39 | 2.57 | 22.49 | 33.57 | 19.06 | 19.98 | 10.73 | 16.11 | 1.501(1.412–1.595) |
| chloral hydrate | N05CC01 | 69.45 | 114.73 | 40.93 | 58.17 | 10.46 | 13.79 | 3.06 | 2.71 | 29.4 | 37.72 | 1.283(1.235–1.333) |
| clonazepam | N03AE01 | 8.16 | 0 | 20.99 | 0 | 39.48 | 0 | 20.64 | 0 | 24.3 | 0 | |
| idebenone | N06BX13 | 5.29 | 6.04 | 11.33 | 13.37 | 18.28 | 27.83 | 45.36 | 59.79 | 18.83 | 28.76 | 1.527(1.459–1.599) |
| levetiracetam | N03AX14 | 0.27 | 9.42 | 4.94 | 17.39 | 25.66 | 31.96 | 17.32 | 20.81 | 12.63 | 21.66 | 1.715(1.625–1.811) |
| nalmefene | N07BB05 | 0 | 0 | 0.19 | 0.03 | 2.01 | 0.62 | 22.53 | 17.6 | 4.91 | 4.73 | 0.962(0.868–1.067) |
| nitrazepam | N05CD03 | 0 | 31.65 | 0 | 11.65 | 0 | 10.16 | 0 | 2.68 | 0 | 11.46 | |
| olanzapine | N05AH03 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.06 | 0.11 | 0.55 | 0.76 | 23.46 | 12.77 | 4.62 | 3.56 | 0.771(0.687–0.865) |
| oxcarbazepine | N03AF02 | 12.51 | 22.63 | 15.14 | 25.46 | 22.33 | 33.76 | 19.42 | 24.78 | 17.64 | 27.44 | 1.555(1.484–1.630) |
| paracetamol | N02BE01 | 50.53 | 46.05 | 32.34 | 15.59 | 15.2 | 4.36 | 7.9 | 0.43 | 25.61 | 12.2 | 0.476(0.449–0.505) |
| sertraline | N06AB06 | 0.03 | 0 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 1.62 | 2.59 | 57.59 | 48.44 | 11.38 | 13.27 | 1.166(1.094–1.243) |
| valproic acid | N03AG01 | 10.34 | 15.99 | 23.15 | 35.72 | 40.71 | 52.95 | 31.36 | 31.37 | 27.8 | 37.28 | 1.341(1.290–1.394) |
| RES | 522.09 | 428.77 | 454.32 | 454.78 | 326.24 | 241.87 | 201.94 | 139.72 | 379.86 | 305.88 | 0.805(0.797–0.814)b | |
| ambroxol | R05CB06 | 110.98 | 64.37 | 98.83 | 63.45 | 50.29 | 22.43 | 9.48 | 8.93 | 69.6 | 37.11 | 0.533(0.516–0.551) |
| budesonide | R03BA02 | 105.72 | 85.2 | 81.75 | 80.48 | 48.65 | 58.11 | 30.16 | 36.26 | 66.12 | 62.93 | 0.952(0.926–0.978) |
| cineole with limonene and α-pinene | * | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.81 | 0.33 | 15.58 | 12.92 | 30.92 | 24.05 | 10.74 | 10.22 | 0.952(0.888–1.021) |
| desloratadine | R06AX27 | 0.18 | 0.93 | 0.73 | 3.86 | 0.85 | 14.38 | 1.84 | 20.48 | 0.88 | 10.95 | 12.373(10.592–14.454) |
| loratadine | R06AX13 | 19.34 | 31.39 | 35.43 | 68.84 | 26.39 | 28.33 | 9.5 | 8.27 | 25.26 | 36.18 | 1.432(1.376–1.490) |
| mometasone | R03BA07 | 3.66 | 3.12 | 40.5 | 48.84 | 47.88 | 35.12 | 24.91 | 11.32 | 33.77 | 29.16 | 0.863(0.829–0.899) |
| montelukast | R03DC03 | 15.5 | 10.68 | 46.47 | 54.07 | 29.39 | 20.99 | 12.95 | 8.73 | 30.09 | 26.81 | 0.891(0.854–0.930) |
| terbutaline | R03AC03 | 86.83 | 64.37 | 68.32 | 67.61 | 29.77 | 24.93 | 4.69 | 2.61 | 47.93 | 37.54 | 0.783(0.756–0.811) |
| ying’er zhike mixture | * | 143.35 | 140.81 | 31.62 | 33.97 | 3.13 | 2.87 | 0.57 | 0.46 | 35.42 | 29.64 | 0.837(0.804–0.871) |
| SNS | 42.61 | 54.54 | 40.38 | 73.92 | 51.1 | 127.29 | 48.52 | 109.28 | 45.44 | 96.7 | 2.128(2.072–2.185) | |
| TCM | 329.12 | 241.66 | 381.31 | 279.61 | 291.81 | 187.37 | 250.38 | 234.35 | 321.75 | 235.16 | 0.731(0.722–0.740) b | |
| dehydroandrographolide succinate | * | 150.27 | 84.14 | 163.7 | 93.29 | 107.3 | 43.73 | 16.6 | 11.05 | 117.11 | 55.94 | 0.478(0.465–0.490) |
| feilike mixture | * | 13.6 | 17.65 | 51.17 | 53.41 | 37.59 | 26.25 | 5.36 | 4.53 | 32.44 | 28.02 | 0.864(0.829–0.900) |
| lanqin oral solution | * | 11.58 | 0 | 19.77 | 0 | 20.39 | 0 | 7.48 | 0 | 16.3 | 0 | |
| tanshinone capsule | * | 0.03 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.22 | 1.38 | 2.34 | 22.14 | 33.88 | 4.62 | 9.5 | 2.054(1.884–2.239) |
| xiao’er chaigui tuire granule | * | 54.4 | 54.21 | 32.4 | 21.8 | 15.1 | 7.15 | 1.55 | 1.36 | 25.03 | 16.26 | 0.650(0.617–0.684) |
| Xiao’er feire kechuan oral solution | * | 12.51 | 0 | 25.24 | 0 | 10.21 | 0 | 0.83 | 0 | 14.14 | 0 | |
| xiao’er qingqiao granule | * | 41.77 | 45.99 | 46.41 | 61.34 | 29.5 | 32.13 | 3.03 | 5.06 | 32.48 | 36.04 | 1.110(1.068–1.152) |
| Others | 5.92 | 14 | 12.86 | 24.34 | 26.1 | 46.99 | 108.7 | 118.08 | 33.73 | 54 | 1.601(1.548–1.655) | |
a Prevalence rate ratio of medications for children in 2020 compared with 2019
b p < 0.001
* Not registered in ATC 2021