Use of Tocolytic Agents in Preterm Labor: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from a Chinese Real-World Study from 2016 to 2021

What Is Known and Objective. Tocolytic agents are used to prolong gestational age and prevent immediate preterm birth (PTB). This study aims to provide an overview of the use of tocolytics among patients with PTB in China through retrospectively analyzing trends in application, influencing factors, and inappropriate prescriptions. Methods. The prescription data of five tocolytic agents from 2016 to 2021 were extracted from the database of the Hospital Prescription Analysis Cooperation Project. Drug consumption was expressed as number of prescriptions, cost of prescriptions, and DDDs (defined daily doses). Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the association between DDDs and DDC (defined daily cost). The appropriateness of prescriptions was analyzed in terms of drug dosage form, administration, clinical diagnosis, and combined medication. Results. The total number of tocolytic prescriptions and the total cost of tocolytic agents increased by 6.12% and 387.58%, respectively, over the six-year duration of the study. From 2016 to 2021, the ranking of the number of prescriptions and DDDs of tocolytic agents was magnesium sulfate > ritodrine > nifedipine > indomethacin > atosiban. During the study period, the cost of tocolytic agents increased significantly, which was mainly related to the increased costs of magnesium sulfate in 2017 and atosiban in 2018 and 2019. The ranking of DDCs was atosiban > ritodrine > magnesium sulfate > nifedipine = indomethacin from 2016 to 2021. For atosiban, the DDC was negatively correlated with the DDDs. Inappropriate prescription, which accounted for 14.84% of all prescriptions, was mainly manifested in the inappropriate selection of nifedipine dosage form, low frequency of nifedipine and indomethacin, and overdosing of ritodrine. Furthermore, 22.87% of tocolytic prescriptions remained active after 34 weeks of gestation, and 7.24% of the prescriptions authorized the use of combination drugs, with magnesium sulfate and nifedipine being the most commonly prescribed combination. What Is New and Conclusion. Magnesium sulfate, ritodrine, and nifedipine were the top three tocolytic agents. As the inappropriate use of tocolytic agents continues to persist, it is important to intensify efforts to ensure the safety and the appropriateness of maternal medication.