ObjectiveTo evaluate the usage status of drugs in the treatment of senile cerebral infarction in Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University in 2011, and to provide references for rational usage of drugs for inpatients with senile cerebral infarction. MethodsMedical records of the elderly (≥60 years old) inpatients with cerebral infarction in Xuanwu Hospital in 2011 were collected. ATC codes were used to standardize names of drug and classifications. Patients' general information, number of patients' used drugs, Defined Daily Doses (DDDs), and Drug Utilization Index (DUI) were calculated by using Microsoft Excel 2007 to evaluate the rationality of drugs usage. ResultsA total of 430 patients were included. The average age was 70.61±7.29 years old. The average types of diseases were 5.39. The major combined disease was circulatory system disease, accounting for 42.45%. A total of 15 656 medication records were included, involving 243 kinds of drugs (including different administration routes). The average number of used drugs for each patient during the admission was 17.11. The top 5 drugs based on percentage of patients with drug use were Ginkgo Biloba Preparation (injection), clopidogrel (oral), prostaglandin E1 (injection), atorvastatin (oral) and cinepazide (injection). The top 5 drugs of DDDs were Ginkgo Biloba Preparation (injection), ipratropium bromide (inhalation), prostaglandin E1 (injection), folic acid (orla), and clopidogrel (oral). The top 5 drugs of DUI were vitamin B12 (injection), multi-vitamin (oral), nikethamide (injection), methylprednisolone (injection), and vitamin C (oral). ConclusionFor therapeutic drugs used among the elderly patients with cerebral infarction in Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, the choice, dosage and administration route of medication are rational. However, the drugs with higher DUI are not related with major diseases, which indicates that we should pay attention to the irrational drug use of clinical application, so as to ensure safety, effectiveness and economy of drug application.