The prescription profiles of Chinese patent medicine in Internet hospitals in China: a retrospective cross-sectional study.
8 affiliations
- 1Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100010, China.
- 2Beijing Evidence-based Chinese Medicine Center, Beijing, 100010, China.
- 3National Institute of Health Data Science, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
- 4Research Center of Clinical Epidemiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.
- 5Beijing PD Cloud medical Technology Co., LTD, Beijing, 100085, China.
- 6Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100088, China.
- 7Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Peking University School of Public Health, No.38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China. [email protected].
- 8Center for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine, Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, No.16 Dongzhimennei Nanxiaojie, Beijing, 100700, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Chinese patent medicine (CPM) is widely used in China's rapidly expanding Internet hospital system, yet its prescribing profiles in this setting remain uncharacterized.Methods
Prescription data were collected from 87 enterprise-led Internet hospitals between January 1, 2018, and March 31, 2021. Visits involving at least one prescribed CPM were included. Descriptive analyses characterized the top 20 most frequently prescribed CPMs overall, with stratification by gender and age groups. The top three CPMs for diseases with over 20,000 visits were identified, and the results were visualized using a sunburst chart.Results
Among 2,065,486 eligible visits, the respiratory diseases category was the most prevalent (26.29%), with acute upper respiratory tract infection (n = 319,772) as the top diagnosis, commonly treated with CPMs like Niuhuang Jiedu Tablet. Genitourinary diseases (23.43%) were also prominent, with Honghe Fujie Cleansing Lotion being the most prescribed CPM overall (3.77%), accounting for 15.2% of prescriptions for adult females. For chronic disease management, digestive (19.12%) and circulatory system (13.14%) diseases were common. Elderly patients (≥ 60 years) frequently received CPMs for cardiovascular conditions (18.9%, e.g., Wenxin Granule, Suxiao Jiuxin Pill). Age stratification showed pediatric patients (< 18 years) were primarily prescribed CPMs for respiratory infections (48.0%), while patients in the 18-44 years age group commonly used CPMs for gynecological and dermatological conditions.Conclusions
Among visits that included at least one CPM prescription, CPM was extensively prescribed via Internet hospitals in China for acute respiratory infections, urogenital, and chronic conditions, with notable coverage also observed among pediatric and elderly populations. Our findings suggest that this model may enable contactless care, provide discreet consultation channels for urogenital conditions, and facilitate medication access for patients with stable chronic diseases.
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BibTeX
@article{hu2026prescription,
title = {{The prescription profiles of Chinese patent medicine in Internet hospitals in China: a retrospective cross-sectional study.}},
author = {Jing Hu and Jia-Xin Zuo and Tian-Tian Zhou and Ruo-Gu Meng and Lin Zhuo and Guo-Zhen Liu and Di Wang and Sheng-Feng Wang and Xing Liao},
journal = {BMC complementary medicine and therapies},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12906-026-05488-y},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968101},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The prescription profiles of Chinese patent medicine in Internet hospitals in China: a retrospective cross-sectional study.
AU - Jing Hu
AU - Jia-Xin Zuo
AU - Tian-Tian Zhou
AU - Ruo-Gu Meng
AU - Lin Zhuo
AU - Guo-Zhen Liu
AU - Di Wang
AU - Sheng-Feng Wang
AU - Xing Liao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/05
JO - BMC complementary medicine and therapies
DO - 10.1186/s12906-026-05488-y
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968101
AB - Background Chinese patent medicine (CPM) is widely used in China's rapidly expanding Internet hospital system, yet its prescribing profiles in this setting remain uncharacterized.Methods Prescription data were collected from 87 enterprise-led Internet hospitals between January 1, 2018, and March 31, 2021. Visits involving at least one prescribed CPM were included. Descriptive analyses characterized the top 20 most frequently prescribed CPMs overall, with stratification by gender and age groups. The top three CPMs for diseases with over 20,000 visits were identified, and the results were visualized using a sunburst chart.Results Among 2,065,486 eligible visits, the respiratory diseases category was the most prevalent (26.29%), with acute upper respiratory tract infection (n = 319,772) as the top diagnosis, commonly treated with CPMs like Niuhuang Jiedu Tablet. Genitourinary diseases (23.43%) were also prominent, with Honghe Fujie Cleansing Lotion being the most prescribed CPM overall (3.77%), accounting for 15.2% of prescriptions for adult females. For chronic disease management, digestive (19.12%) and circulatory system (13.14%) diseases were common. Elderly patients (≥ 60 years) frequently received CPMs for cardiovascular conditions (18.9%, e.g., Wenxin Granule, Suxiao Jiuxin Pill). Age stratification showed pediatric patients (< 18 years) were primarily prescribed CPMs for respiratory infections (48.0%), while patients in the 18-44 years age group commonly used CPMs for gynecological and dermatological conditions.Conclusions Among visits that included at least one CPM prescription, CPM was extensively prescribed via Internet hospitals in China for acute respiratory infections, urogenital, and chronic conditions, with notable coverage also observed among pediatric and elderly populations. Our findings suggest that this model may enable contactless care, provide discreet consultation channels for urogenital conditions, and facilitate medication access for patients with stable chronic diseases.
SN - 2662-7671
ER -