Opioid prescribing in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national register-based study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdown measures disrupted global healthcare provision, including opioid prescribing. In North America, opioid sales declined while opioid-related deaths increased. In Europe, the effect of the pandemic on prescribing is not yet known. Given the ongoing increase in opioid-related harm and mortality, it is crucial to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and lockdown measures on opioid prescribing. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterise opioid prescribing in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design

A nationwide register-based study characterising opioid prescribing using aggregated insurance reimbursement data.

Setting

Dutch healthcare during the first 2 years of the COVID lockdown.

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SUBMITTER: Ellerbroek H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11298725 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature