Oral antiviral utilisation among older adults with COVID-19 in primary care: A population-wide study during successive Omicron waves in Singapore

Abstract

Studies have repeatedly demonstrated the real-world effectiveness of oral antivirals (OAVs) in preventing hospitalisation and death in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19 when initiated within 5 days of symptom onset, even during waves of Omicron transmission.1 However, there is a need to determine if OAVs are reaching recommended groups, particularly among older adults and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups at higher risk of severe COVID-19. Disparities in access to OAVs based on area-level socioeconomic status (SES) have been documented in the US, UK and Australia,2-4 with substantially lower dispensing rates reported from more deprived areas. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have evaluated disparities in OAV access among urbanised Asian populations, including Singapore.