Five-year evolution of drug prescribing in a university adult intensive care unit

Healthcare costs are steadily increasing. In Switzerland, in 2007, they amounted to 10.8% of gross domestic product, of which 45.6% related to hospital care (including drug-related costs) and 10.3% to drugs.[1] Very few data exist regarding evolution of drug costs in hospitals, as they are included in the hospital financing system.[2] In our university hospital, the 32-bed adult intensive care unit (AICU) amounts to 0.3% of hospital beds but 3% of hospital costs. In 2008, drug costs amounted to 4.8% of hospital costs but 11% of AICU costs. Intensive care physicians (ICPs) prescribe most usual drugs, but specialists clinicians (SCs) are allowed to prescribe specific expensive drugs in their specific field. We assessed the 5-year evolution of AICU drug prescription both in quantities and costs, by type of prescriber.