Objective: To investigate the application status of budesonide suspension for inhalation in pediatric outpatient and emergency department of our hospital

so as to provide reference for the use of inhaled glucocorticoids in pediatric outpatient and emergency department of our hospital and promote the safe and rational use of drugs. Methods: A total of 1

681 prescriptions of budesonide suspension for inhalation in pediatric outpatient and emergency department of our hospital in Jan. 2020 were collected and analyzed statistically in the application department

age of children

clinical diagnosis

drug usage and dosage and drug combination. Results: Among the prescriptions drawn

the proportion of budesonide used in pediatric emergency department was 53.66%

and the proportion of pediatric outpatient department was 46.34%. The proportion of children >3 to 7 years old with budesonide was 39.20%

the proportion of children from 0 to 3 years old with budesonide was 55.92%

mainly infants and preschool children. There were 11 categories of clinical diagnoses

including 26 diagnoses

among which the top 5 were acute bronchitis (32.54%)

bronchitis (21.77%)

asthmatic bronchitis (16.78%)

acute bronchitis (9.04%) and bronchopneumonia (7.02%)

while bronchial asthma was only 0.48%

indicating serious off-label drug use. There were 25 prescriptions (1.49%) for budesonide suspension alone

512 prescriptions (30.46%) for dual drugs

922 prescriptions (54.85%) for triple drugs

and 222 prescriptions (13.21%) for quadruple drugs

indicating high proportion of combination drugs. There were 1

554 prescriptions with off-label administration frequency

1

554 prescriptions (92.44%) with qd administration frequency

1 prescription (0.06%) with tid administration frequency

and the proportion of off-label administration frequency was 92.50%. Conclusion: The main users of budesonide suspension are infants and preschool children. Off-label drug use is common

and the proportion of drug combination is relatively high. Some off-label drug use lacks reliable evidence-based evidence. It is suggested that the administrative department of the hospital should strengthen the management of off-label drug use

formulate the specifications of off-label drug use according to the authoritative guidelines

so as to promote the rational clinical drug use.