# Trends in drug use and prescription patterns for Crohn’s disease patients in China, 2018–2022

## TL;DR

This study shows rising healthcare use and costs for Crohn’s disease in China, with a shift toward biologic drugs like infliximab.

## Contribution

The study provides the first nationwide analysis of drug use and prescription trends for Crohn’s disease in China.

## Key findings

- The proportion of Crohn’s disease patients increased from 0.23 to 0.40 per 1000 patients between 2018 and 2022.
- Biologic drugs, especially infliximab, became the most prescribed treatment after 2020.
- Healthcare expenditures for Crohn’s disease rose from 2.83 million to 10.61 million Chinese Yuan during the study period.

## Abstract

Crohn’s disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease that requires medical treatment. The use of medications to treat CD is increasing worldwide, coinciding with the rising prevalence of the disease. However, research on the use of medications for CD has mostly focused on developed countries, and little research has been done on the status and trends in China. Thus, we conducted a nationwide study to ascertain the current status of treatment for CD patients in Chinese healthcare institutions.

Data on inpatient prescriptions for CD were obtained from the Hospital Prescription Analysis Cooperative Project of China. We analyzed the trends in patient numbers and prescription expenditures in seven regions of China. Subgroup analyses were performed by age, gender and drug class.

A total of 71,654,361 patients from 70 hospitals in seven major cities of China were included in the study. From 2018 to 2022, the proportion of patients with CD increased from 0.23 per 1000 patients to 0.40 per 1000 patients. Visits by CD patients increased from 3598 to 5389, and the relevant expenditure increased from 2.83 million Chinese Yuan in to 10.61 million Chinese Yuan. The 20–39 age group was the most predominant age of incidence. The prevalence in males was more than twice as high as in females. 5-aminosalicylic acid, enteral/parenteral nutrients, corticosteroids and biologicals were the main prescribed drugs. There was a clear upward trend in the use of biologicals, especially infliximab, which has become the most used prescription drug since 2020.

This nationwide study indicates a significant increase in healthcare utilization and expenditures for CD in China from 2018 to 2022, concurrent with a paradigm shift in treatment from traditional therapies toward biologic agents, primarily infliximab. This shift, facilitated by national insurance coverage, underscores the need for pharmacoeconomic evaluations and optimized stewardship of advanced therapies. The findings establish a crucial baseline for informing future healthcare strategies for CD management in China.