Systemic antibiotics and asthma medicines dispensed to 0−12 year olds significantly decreased during the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020

Abstract

Aim Nationwide lockdowns and social restrictions during the COVID‐19 pandemic have reduced childhood infections. We assessed how many items of systemic antibiotics and asthma medicines were dispensed to children aged 0−12 years in Finland before and during the pandemic and analysed the reimbursement costs. Methods The data came from the national Finnish register of reimbursable prescriptions, which is maintained by the country's Social Insurance Institution. It included all prescriptions for antibiotics and asthma medicines dispensed to children aged 0−12 years in 2019 and 2020. Prescription rates per 1000 children were calculated for each quarter and compared using rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results Overall dispensing for antibiotics decreased by 55.3% and was most prominent for macrolides for children aged 0−5 years (59.6%, 95% CI 60.9%−58.2%). Asthma medicines decreased by 19.8%, and the most prominent reduction was in short‐acting beta‐agonists for children aged 0−5 years (35.2%, 95% CI 36.1%−34.2%). These reduced reimbursement costs by 3.4 million Euros from 2019 to 2020. Conclusion This nationwide study showed that the number of antibiotics and asthma medicines decreased by 59.6% and 19.8% respectively from 2019 to 2020, generating a cost saving of 3.4 million Euros.

Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae Findings in Children During COVID-19 Pandemic in Finland

“…However, the reduced testing numbers could have been due to reduced disease burden instead of limited testing capacity. Thus, must be noted that the primary care visit rate returned to normal in Finland in August 2020 after being lower during the initial lockdown from March 2020 to June 2020, and the visit rate has remained normal since [ 16 , 17 ]. The reason for the increased C. pneumoniae testing remains unknown and is interesting as the nationwide detections rate have been zero during the second pandemic year.…”

Restrictions for COVID‐19 prevented other respiratory infections and reduced emergency visits in children

“…The data included over 330,000 prescriptions for antibiotics dispensed to children aged 0–12 years in 2019 (69%) and in 2020 (31%). Overall, prescriptions of antibiotics to these children decreased by 55%, and the decrease was most prominent (60%) for macrolides in children aged 0–5 years 5 . The costs decreased accordingly.…”

“…A retrospective register study exploited the data on purchased antibiotics obtained from the Finnish national prescription register maintained by the Social Insurance Institution 5 . The data included over 330,000 prescriptions for antibiotics dispensed to children aged 0–12 years in 2019 (69%) and in 2020 (31%).…”

“…A retrospective register study exploited the data on purchased antibiotics obtained from the Finnish national prescription register maintained by the Social Insurance Institution. 5 The data included over 330,000 prescriptions for antibiotics dispensed to children aged 0–12 years in 2019 (69%) and in 2020 (31%). Overall, prescriptions of antibiotics to these children decreased by 55%, and the decrease was most prominent (60%) for macrolides in children aged 0–5 years.…”

“…Overall, prescriptions of antibiotics to these children decreased by 55%, and the decrease was most prominent (60%) for macrolides in children aged 0–5 years. 5 The costs decreased accordingly. Thus, restrictions due to the COVID‐19 pandemic led to reductions of doctoral visits for children's respiratory infections, and further to halving of antibiotic consumption and costs related to antibiotics.…”