Post-COVID condition: dispensation of drugs and diagnostic tests as proxies of healthcare impact

Abstract

With the goal to increase knowledge on the healthcare impact of the post-COVID-19 condition we exploited the administrative claims database of Lombardy, the largest Italian region and the first after China to be heavily hit by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in February–May 2020. We chose to employ the dispensation of drugs and diagnostic tests as proxies of the impact of the post-COVID condition in 46,574 cases who recovered from COVID-19 and were negative at PCR testing within June 20, 2020. Data were obtained throughout the 18-month post-negativization period until December 2021 and results on the use of drugs and diagnostic tests were compared with those accrued in the same cases during the pre-COVID period in July–December 2019. After an increase in the first semester after SARS-CoV-2 negativization (July–December 2020), trends in the dispensation of drugs according to the broad ATC classes and of diagnostic tests decreased or remained substantially stable. However, dispensation of drugs for acid related disorders (A02), diabetes (A10), heparins (B01AB), direct oral anticoagulants (B01AP), antipsychotics (N05A), antidepressants (N06A) and for obstructive airways diseases (R03) was still higher than in the pre-COVID period. These findings, based upon drug and diagnostic test dispensation as proxies of the healthcare impact of the post-COVID condition, show that in a substantial proportion of recovered cases the post-COVID condition is active and clinically relevant 18 months after the acute disease. The findings also provide indirect evidence of the body organs and systems more compromised in the post-COVID period. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11739-023-03228-5.

The incidence and risk factors of selected drug prescriptions and outpatient care after SARS-CoV-2 infection in low-risk subjects: a multicenter population-based cohort study

“…The outcome of interest was the access to specific healthcare services during the PAP, defined through a selected list of drug prescriptions and outpatient visits and diagnostics. This combined outcome was considered a proxy for the long-term effects of COVID-19 requiring medical attention ( 22 ). A broad range of drug prescriptions and outpatient care services was considered, to reflect the multifactorial nature of COVID-19, which can affect several organs and systems.…”

“…A broad range of drug prescriptions and outpatient care services was considered, to reflect the multifactorial nature of COVID-19, which can affect several organs and systems. Selected drug prescriptions included cardiovascular system (e.g., antithrombotics, antiarrhythmics, antihypertensives, beta blockers), antidiabetic, nervous system (e.g., antidepressants), and respiratory system (e.g., adrenergics and other drugs for obstructive airway diseases) drugs, oxygen and corticosteroids ( 22 – 24 ). Selected outpatient visits and diagnostics included ambulatory visits in cardiology, pneumology, angiology, neurology, psychiatry, rehabilitation-motor, nephrology, and diabetes, as well as other diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as chest imaging, cardiac ultrasound imaging, pneumological diagnostics, electrocardiography, oxygen therapy, respiratory, and cardiological rehabilitation, peripheral vascular ultrasound imaging, training for cognitive disorders, hemodialysis, renal imaging, and glycated hemoglobin analysis ( 22 – 24 ).…”

COVID-19 and Antipsychotic Therapy: Unraveling the Thrombosis Risk

“…Dispensation of antipsychotic drugs increased in the COVID-19 period compared to the pre-COVID era [1,23].…”

“…Given the heightened risk of adverse outcomes, particularly thromboembolic events and mortality, healthcare providers should exercise heightened caution when prescribing antipsychotics for patients during pandemic conditions like COVID-19. Alternatives to antipsychotics or strategies to minimize exposure may be beneficial, especially for patients with additional risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes [1,23].…”