Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular heart disease medication use: time-series analysis of England's prescription data during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2019 to October 2020).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Management of high blood pressure (BP) typically requires adherence to medication regimes. However, it is known that the COVID-19 pandemic both interrupted access to some routine prescriptions and changed some patient health behaviours.

Aim

This study, therefore, retrospectively investigated prescription reimbursement of cardiovascular (CVD) medicines as a proxy measure for patient adherence and access to medicines during the pandemic.

Methods

A cohort study of all primary care patients in England prescribed CVD medicines. The exposure was to the global pandemic. Prescriptions were compared before and after the pandemic's onset. Statistical variation was the outcome of interest.

Results

Descriptive statistics show changes to monthly prescriptions, wi

SUBMITTER: Barrett R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9702971 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature