Inequities in COVID-19 antiviral dispensation in Victoria, Australia: A retrospective cohort study using linked data.

IF 1.7 4区医学 Q2 MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL

Australian Journal of General Practice Pub Date : 2025-09-01 DOI:10.31128/AJGP-06-24-7312

Elizabeth J Robinson, Lakshmi Manoharan, Benjamin C Cowie, David M Lister

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background and objectives: Oral antiviral therapies are recommended for treatment of COVID-19 in people vulnerable to severe outcomes. This study examined COVID-19 antiviral dispensation and incidence of severe outcomes among eligible Victorians by socioeconomic status and cultural and linguistic diversity.

Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted using linked population data. Dispensation of COVID-19 antiviral treatment (molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) is described, stratified by socioeconomic and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) status between 1 January and 30 June 2023 in Victorian residents aged ≥70 years. Rates of severe COVID-19 outcomes (hospitalisation or death) were also calculated from 1 November 2022 to 30 April 2023.

Results: Victorians living in areas of increasing socioeconomic disadvantage had steadily reduced COVID-19 antiviral dispensation in both CALD and non-CALD groups, with lower rates in CALD groups across all socioeconomic levels. The rate of severe COVID-19 outcomes showed the opposite trend.

Discussion: This analysis suggests that treatment access and outcomes are inequitable in Victorians eligible for COVID-19 antivirals. Increasing equity is a public health imperative.

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澳大利亚维多利亚州COVID-19抗病毒药物分配的不公平：使用关联数据的回顾性队列研究

背景和目的：在易受严重后果影响的人群中，建议使用口服抗病毒药物治疗COVID-19。本研究按社会经济地位、文化和语言多样性调查了符合条件的维多利亚州人的COVID-19抗病毒药物分配和严重后果发生率。方法：采用相关人群资料进行回顾性分析。根据2023年1月1日至6月30日期间维多利亚州年龄≥70岁的居民的社会经济、文化和语言多样性（CALD）状况，描述了COVID-19抗病毒治疗（molnupiravir或nirmatrelvir/ritonavir）的分配情况。还计算了2022年11月1日至2023年4月30日期间COVID-19严重结局（住院或死亡）的发生率。结果：生活在社会经济劣势加剧地区的维多利亚州人在CALD组和非CALD组中都稳步减少了COVID-19抗病毒药物的使用，在所有社会经济水平的CALD组中，这一比例都较低。COVID-19重症转归率呈现相反趋势。讨论：该分析表明，有资格获得COVID-19抗病毒药物的维多利亚州人的治疗可及性和结果是不公平的。增加公平是公共卫生的当务之急。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Australian Journal of General Practice Medicine-Family Practice

CiteScore

2.80

自引率

4.50%

发文量

284

期刊介绍： The Australian Journal of General Practice (AJGP) aims to provide relevant, evidence-based, clearly articulated information to Australian general practitioners (GPs) to assist them in providing the highest quality patient care, applicable to the varied geographic and social contexts in which GPs work and to all GP roles as clinician, researcher, educator, practice team member and opinion leader. All articles are subject to peer review before they are accepted for publication.