Nationwide utilization of antidepressants and anxiolytics during pandemic restrictions: results from the Trends in Drug Utilization During COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey (PANDUTI-TR) study.
Caner Vizdiklar, Volkan Aydin, Hakan Yilmaz, Ahmet Akici
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: The prevalence of mental health disorders rose when the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was most pronounced, potentially altering the consumption of antidepressants and anxiolytics. We aimed to evaluate changes in antidepressant and anxiolytic utilization throughout the COVID-19 pandemic era.
Methods: Nationwide drug sales and prescribing data through 01.03.2018-31.12.2022 were sourced from IQVIA Turkey. We assessed mean monthly consumption and expenditure trends of antidepressants and anxiolytics, along with quarterly prescribing levels, across three periods: "before restrictions" (BfR, 01.03.2018-31.03.2020), "during restrictions" (DuR, 01.04.2020-31.03.2022), and "after restrictions" (AfR, 01.04.2022-31.12.2022), using "defined daily dose per 1000 inhabitants per day" (DID) measure.
Results: Antidepressant consumption escalated from 47.9 ± 4.3 DID in BfR to 56.2 ± 8.9 DID in DuR (P < .001), reaching 60.5 ± 8.9 DID in AfR (P < .001 vs. BfR). Anxiolytic use increased from 2.0 ± 0.3 DID in BfR to 2.5 ± 0.3 DID in DuR (P < .001), and to 2.7 ± 0.3 DID in AfR (P < .001 vs. BfR). Expenditure also rose in DuR and AfR for both drug groups (P < .01). Prescribing trends for antidepressants decreased in DuR (P < .001) and showed an insignificant rebound in AfR (P > .05 vs. BfR and DuR), while anxiolytic prescribing surged in DuR (P = .001 vs. BfR) and subsequently reverted in AfR (P > .05 vs. BfR and DuR). These patterns were consistent across both new and ongoing users.
Conclusions: This study showed a sustained increase in the use of antidepressants and anxiolytics following the onset of pandemic despite fluctuations in prescribing, implying a heightened need for pharmacotherapy and greater burden of depressive and anxiety disorders, especially for the latter.
期刊介绍：
Family Practice is an international journal aimed at practitioners, teachers, and researchers in the fields of family medicine, general practice, and primary care in both developed and developing countries.
Family Practice offers its readership an international view of the problems and preoccupations in the field, while providing a medium of instruction and exploration.
The journal''s range and content covers such areas as health care delivery, epidemiology, public health, and clinical case studies. The journal aims to be interdisciplinary and contributions from other disciplines of medicine and social science are always welcomed.
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