Background The expenditure on drugs represents a significant part of hospital budgets.

Purpose To analyse changes in hospital pharmaceutical expenditure in HCU ‘Lozano Blesa’ during 2006-2010.

Materials and methods Retrospective study of drug consumption over five years. Data were collected from distribution of hospital pharmaceutical expenditure (drugs and classification of drugs by ATC group). Data source: Dominion program from the pharmacy department.

Results The growth of hospital pharmaceutical expenditure during the 5-year period was 60.1% with a median increase per year of 12.9%. The main drugs by cost in this period were: adalimumab (5.9%), tenofovir/emtricitabine (3.2%), trastuzumab (3.0%), etanercept (2.9%), infliximab (2.8%), bevacizumab (2.7%), docetaxel (2.5%), rituximab (2.1%). The percentage increase in consumption by 2010 compared to 2006 in most drugs consumed was: tenofovir/emtricitabine (479.9%), infliximab (106.3%), bevacizumab (355.6%), adalimumab (281.52%), rituximab (38.03%), trastuzumab (15.74%). This increase was due to the increased number of indications, patients and a change in the patterns of HIV treatment choice. In 2010 the main ATC groups by cost were: L04AA (Selective immunosuppressants) (14.5%); L01XC (Monoclonal antibodies) (10.2%); J05AR (Antivirals for treatment of HIV infections, combinations) (6.8%); L01XE (Protein kinase inhibitors) (5.0%); J05AE (Protease inhibitors) (4.1%).

Conclusions An increase in hospital pharmaceutical expenditure was observed during the study period. The largest increases were observed in the main drugs consumed by cost. Selective immunosuppressants, monoclonal antibodies and antivirals for treatment of HIV accounted for a high percentage of hospital pharmaceutical expenditure.