[Psychotropic Drug and Chronic Medications in a Primary Care Center: Relation with COVID-19 Pandemic].

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused an overall global health crisis, generating an increase in mental health symptoms as well as a shift in health care for chronic conditions.

Aim: To assess the modification of psychotropic and chronic prescriptions in a Primary Care Center (CESFAM) in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile, during the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods of COVID-19.

Methodology: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted. All prescriptions were reviewed, and the percentage of prescriptions during May of each year and period was studied, considering the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The confidence interval for the mean percentage of drug prescriptions in the pre-pandemic years was constructed, and values from 2020 onwards were compared with that period. The distribution of drug prescriptions was analyzed, and the association between each period and type of drug was assessed using the chi-square test.

Results: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the Primary Care Center led to a statistically significant increase in the percentage of psychotropic drug prescriptions, with the following percentages per period: pre-pandemic (3.12%), pandemic (3.37%), and post-pandemic (3.89%). For chronic medications, compared to the pre-pandemic period (51.72%), there was an increase during the pandemic (60.29%) and then a decrease post-pandemic (55.17%).

Conclusions: The monitoring of drug prescriptions concerning the pandemic in this study revealed modifications that may be of interest as a reliable indicator that could demonstrate an increase in psychiatric and chronic diseases. This could facilitate the development of public health strategies to take action and prevent similar future situations.