Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prescription drug use and costs in British Columbia: a retrospective interrupted time series study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prescription drug use and costs.

Design

Interrupted time series analysis of comprehensive administrative health data linkages in British Columbia, Canada, from 1 January 2018 to 28 March 2021.

Setting

Retrospective population-based analysis of all prescription drugs dispensed in community pharmacies and outpatient hospital pharmacies and irrespective of the drug insurance payer.

Participants

Between 4.30 and 4.37 million individuals (52% women) actively registered with the publicly funded medical services plan.

Intervention

COVID-19 pandemic and associated mitigation measures.

Main outcome measures

Weekly dispensing rates and costs, both overall and stratified by therapeutic groups and ph

SUBMITTER: Zeitouny S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10773331 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature