Trends in Coprescription Among Taiwanese Children from 2002 to 2012

Abstract

Sio-Ian Tou,1 Cheng-Li Lin,2,3 Chia-Yu Huang,4,5,* Hung-Rong Yen5– 9,* 1Department of Pediatrics, Chung Kang Branch, Cheng-Ching General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; 2Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; 3College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; 4Department of Family Medicine, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung, Taiwan; 5Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; 6International Master Program in Acupuncture, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; 7Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; 8Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; 9Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hung-Rong Yen, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, North District, Taichung, 404, Taiwan, Tel [phone] ext. 3313, Fax [phone], Email [email protected] Chia-Yu Huang, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, 88, Sec 1, Fengxing Road, Tanzi Dist, Taichung, 427, Taiwan, Tel [phone], Fax [phone], Email [email protected]: Coprescription means that patients use different prescription medications at the same time, which can lead to polypharmacy and subsequent complications. In Taiwan, prescriptions can be ordered by Western physicians, traditional Chinese physicians and dentists. It is essential to disclose the trends in coprescription to prevent possible polypharmacy among children.Patients and Methods: We used the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 in Taiwan. Children < 18 years old who had coprescription from 2002 to 2012 are included. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval are estimated by a logistic regression model to evaluate the correlation between basic characteristics and coprescription.Results: A total of 44,801 children are included in the analysis. The numbers of children with coprescription and the numbers of coprescriptions ordered for children increased with calendar years. Children aged 3– 5 year and 6– 8 years constituted the majority of coprescriptions, while those aged < 3 years constituted the minority of coprescriptions. Compared to those in the Western medication-alone group, aged 3– 5 years and children who lived in central and southern Taiwan are more likely to have coprescription.Conclusion: Coprescription among Taiwanese children is not uncommon. Healthcare providers, policymakers and parents should be aware of the real coprescription situation among the children.Keywords: pediatrics, Chinese herbal medicine, polypharmacy, big-data analysis

Keywords

• pediatrics
• chinese herbal medicine
• polypharamacy
• big-data analysis