Objective  To analyze the utilization of analgesics in ten cancer hospitals in China from 2013 to 2016; to analyze the use status of analgesics and auxiliary analgesics in Chinese patients with cancer, based on the three-step analgesic ladder principle announced by the WHO and the guidelines of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), and to provide data for the rational use of cancer analgesics in clinical practice.

  Methods  A retrospective analysis method was used to extract data on the use of analgesics and auxiliary analgesics in ten cancer hospitals in China between 2013 and 2016. Subsequently, statistical analyses were conducted on the dosage form of the drugs, the total consumption, the defined daily doses (DDDs), the defined daily cost (DDC), and the drug sequence ratio (B/A).

  Results  Between 2013 and 2016, patients using analgesics in China comprised 12.6% of the total number of cancer patients and the cost of analgesics accounted for 1.5% of the total cost of medication for all patients. The main analgesics used were opioids, which accounted for 90.9% of the cost of analgesics; the other types of analgesics, such as the anticonvulsant drugs, were increased. The major administration routes of analgesics in patients were oral, injectable, and topical routes. The DDD rankings of all types of analgesic treatment drugs were basically stable. The DDD values of fentanyl patches, estazolam, oxycodone oral dosage form, morphine oral dosage form, and indomethacin suppository were among the best. The DDC values for most analgesics did not change much, which reflected that price was stable. The DDC values of 13 analgesics were between 10 and 100. Most of the B/A values of all kinds of analgesics were close to 1, with 17 between 0.5 and 1.5, comprised 58.6% of all types of drugs, which indicated that medication synchronization was good.

  Conclusions  The clinical applications of analgesics are increasing. In China, the treatment of cancer pain generally follows the three-step analgesic ladder principle announced by the WHO. However, there are also some problems. For instance, the daily average cost of a few drugs was high and the synchronization was poor. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the management and regulate the treatment of cancer pain.