Abstract: Objective To analyze the way in which elemene emulsion injection is used in combination with other drugs among liver cancer patients in the real world. Methods Based on the hospital information system (HIS) database of 21 hospitals in China, 441 patients with liver cancer who used elemene emulsion injection were described and analyzed. By using the Apriori algorithm to establish a model and clementine12.0 to carry out association analysis, the characteristics of liver cancer populations and combined use with elemene emulsion injection were analyzed. Results 760 cases of malignant tumors of the liver were diagnosed based on Western medicine, accounting for 22.66% of the total. No cases were diagnosed via TCM. 102 patients (23.13%) were diagnosed at the Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment Center. More female patients with liver cancer were treated with elemene emulsion injection than female ones. There were 206 patients (46.71%) aged 46 to 65, with an average of 58.39 years. The median length of hospital stay was 24 days and the percentage of patients who had been hospitalized for 28 days was the highest (40.36%). 104 patients were critically ill, 100 of whom (22.68% of the total) were critically ill for one day or longer. 269 patients were seriously ill for a median 11 days. The administration route was mostly intravenous drip. The number of patients whose single dose was 200 mg or above was 390 (99.49%). Drugs that were often used in combination with elemene emulsion injection were vitamin, dexamethasone, glutathione, Kangai injection and amino acid as well as blood substitutes and infusions, antitumor drugs, immune stimulants, antibacterial drugs and mineral supplement. The results of elemene emulsion injection combinations were consistent with the results of analysis of drug properties based on complex network analysis. The major reason elemene emulsion injection was used in combination with other drugs was to help combat tumors and balance the basic needs of the body. Conclusion Based on the analysis of properties of elemene emulsion injection and of liver cancer patients,via the complex network, it has been found that elemene emulsion injection is generally used in combination with vitamins, dexamethasone, glutathione, Kangai injection and amino acids. This study is expected to provide evidence for clinical drug use and in-depth analysis.

Key words: elemene emulsion injection, liver cancer, real-world, hospital information system, combined drug use, property analysis