Abstract Body

Background and purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have changed the pattern of use of some antithrombotic agents. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) have been recommended in new atrial fibrillation diagnosis and poorly controlled patients with Vitamin K antagonists (VKA). Low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) have been suggested due to the high risk of coagulopathies and thrombotic events. The objective of this study is to evaluate COVID-19 pandemic’s influence in DOAC, VKA and LMWH consumption patterns.

Methods: Descriptive, longitudinal, ecological study in twenty-two primary care centres. Monthly doses per 1,000-inhabitants/day (DID) were calculated for DOAC, VKA and LMWH. A segmented-model was applied in three scenarios: pre-pandemic (July 2018-March 2020), lockdown (April-May 2020) and post-lockdown (June-December 2020).

Results: The reference population was 344,601 inhabitants. The mean change observed in DOAC DID in each period was: pre-pandemic 0.101 (CI95%:0.092–0.110,p<0.001), lockdown -0.089 (CI95%:-0.328–0.149,p=0.448) and post-lockdown 0.054 (CI95%:0.012–0.097,p=0.015). In VKA: pre-pandemic -0.001 (CI95%:-0.020–0.018,p=0.895); lockdown -0.489 (CI95%:-0.989–0.010,p=0.055) and post-lockdown 0.005 (CI95%:-0.085–0.094,p=0.918). In LMWH: pre-pandemic 0.029 (CI95%:0.012–0.046, p=0.001); lockdown -0.887 (CI95%:-1.326– -0.449,p<0.001) and post-lockdown 0.156 (CI95%:0.077–0.234,p<0.001).

Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic has changed antithrombotic consumption. For DOAC, the upward trend in the use detected in the pre-pandemic scenario continues post-lockdown, but to a lesser extent. In the case of VKA, it cannot be said that the consumption trend has changed. Finally, for LMWH there are three different significant trends: an upward trend before the pandemic, a downward one during the lockdown and a growing trend of greater magnitude during post-lockdown.

Abstract Body

1. Background and purpose

Health care emergency due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has made people to be more concerned and stressed out. This is why the pandemic is expected to adversely affect mental health. The aim of this study is to evaluate COVID-19 pandemic’s influence in antidepressant and hypnotic-sedative-anxiolytic drugs consumption patterns.

2. Methods

Descriptive, longitudinal, ecological study conducted in twenty-two primary care centres. Monthly records of doses per 1,000-inhabitants/day (DID) of hypnotics-sedatives-anxiolytics excluding hydroxyzine and antidepressants were collected from July 2018 to December 2020. We applied a segmented-model to estimate the level and trend in DID in the following segments: pre-pandemic (July 2018 - March 2020), lockdown (April 2020 - May 2020) and post-lockdown (June 2020 - December 2020).

3. Results

The reference population was 344,601 inhabitants. Throughout the study, the mean change observed in hypnotics-sedatives-anxiolytics DID in each period was: pre-pandemic 0.171 (CI95%: -0.002–0.344, p=0.053), lockdown -1.821 (CI95%: -6.363–2.720, p=0.417) and post-lockdown 0.483 (CI95%: -0.331–1.296, p=0.234). In antidepressants, the mean change in DID during these periods was: pre-pandemic 0.246 (CI95%: 0.101–0.391, p=0.002); lockdown -3.159 (CI95%: -6.957–0.640, p=0.099) and post-lockdown 0.409 (CI95%: -0.272–1.089, p=0.228).

4. Conclusions

Although COVID-19 pandemic was expected to increase the hypnotic-sedative and anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs use, this raise has not been detected. Only antidepressants show a statistically significant growth in their consumption in the pre-pandemic scenario. Both groups of drugs have a decreased consumption during the lockdown period with no statistically significant difference.