Comprehensive analysis of kampo medicine utilization across all outpatient departments with a focus on anesthesiology department/pain clinic at Kyoto university hospital over 12 years.

Aim: Kampo medicines, which are covered under national health insurance, are widely accessible and affordable in Japan; however, knowledge about their current prescription practices remains limited. This study investigated the outpatient prescription practices of Kampo formulations at Kyoto University Hospital from April 2011 to March 2023.

Results: Kampo medicine was prescribed in all medical departments. A total of 42,453 prescriptions were recorded during the study period, with an average of 3,538 prescriptions per year. The gynecology and obstetrics department had the highest number of Kampo prescriptions, followed by anesthesiology. The anesthesiology department prescribed various formulations for 12 years. The usage rate of Processed Aconite Root-containing formulations increased with increasing patient age, reaching 3.3% in individuals in their teens, 6.6% in their twenties, 13.3% in their thirties, and over 30% in their eighties and nineties.

Conclusion: The substantial use of Kampo medicines across various departments indicates their critical role in specialized and general medical practice. The adaptability and personalized approach of treatments using Kampo medicines in the anesthesiology department are evident from the dynamic prescription patterns. Notably, the increasing use of Processed Aconite Root-containing formulations with advancing patient age suggests a potential age-related preference or therapeutic indication. These findings underscore the integral role of Kampo medicine in modern clinical practice and emphasize the necessity of further research into its age-specific applications and departmental prescribing trends.