Antivenom Usage Analysis Using National Health Insurance Research Database, Taiwan, 2017–2021

DOI: 10.6524/EB.202507_41(13).0001

Hsueh-Chen Chang*, Yafen Cheng

2025 Vol.41 NO.13

Correspondence Author： Hsueh-Chen Chang

Abstract：

    Taiwan has six common venomous snakes of medical importance: Trimeresurus stejnegeri, Protobothrops mucrosquamatus, Deinagkistrodon acutus, Bungarus multicinctus, Naja atra, and Daboia siamensis. The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control is the sole supplier of antivenoms in Taiwan, which cover all six common venomous snakes. The aim of this study was to analyze antivenom use from 2017 to 2021, based on the National Health Insurance Research Database, to understand snakebite occurrences in Taiwan.
    An average of 2,312 doses of antivenom were used annually from 2017 to 2021, with the highest proportion (78.8%) being antivenom for P. mucrosquamatus and T. stejnegeri, followed by antivenin for B. multicinctus and N. atra (20%). A total of 4,893 persons received antivenoms because of snakebites during this period, with an average of 979 persons per year. Among them, 53.3% required hospitalization. Antivenin recipients were mainly male (67.7%), and 43.6% were aged 45–65 years; the most common type of antivenom used was antivenin of P. mucrosquamatus and T. stejnegeri only (82.9%). The average usage rates were highest in August and lowest in February. The average annual standardized usage rate was highest in Taitung County (23.4 persons per 100,000 population), followed by Hualien County and the Chiayi area (17.1 and 11.7 persons per 100,000 population). Even after using antivenoms, 9 persons died from snakebites during 2017–2021 (case fatality rate: 0.18%).
    This analysis not only serves as a reference for domestic supply and reserves of antivenom, but also provides relevant information for local governments to formulate prevention and control policies for the seasons and regions with the most snakebites.