earticle

영어

This study was aimed to examine the prescribing patterns of antivirals in chronic hepatitis B(CHB)for outpatients. National Health Insurance adjudicated claims data(total 1,426,065 claims) dated March 19, 2008 submitted from nationwide healthcare providers to Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service were used in this study. 2,965 claims included CHB diagnosis(ICD-10 code B18.0 and B18.1). 44.2%(1,311) of CHD related claims included antiviral prescription such as lamivudine, clevudine, adefovir and entecavir which were currently available. Lamivudine, adefovir, clevudine and entecavir shared 54.9%, 19.9%, 13.2% and 11.9%, respectively among antiviral prescriptions. Adefovir and entecavir 1mg presumed as the 2nd line therapy for HBV resistant cases were shared 23.3% of overall antiviral prescriptions. There were statistically significant difference in prescription patterns according to age and instititution type: Lamivudine usage was higher in younger(< 20) and older age group(> 70 year old) than others(p = 0.016), and adefovir and entecavir which were relatively newer antivirals had higher prescription rate in higher level of institutions such as the 3rd level hospital than others(p < 0.001). This study would be of help to makeappropriate drug therapy plan for CHB patients.