Pharmacotherapy Analysis for Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 (Prescriptions, Costs, and Outcomes)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many economic problems worldwide, in Iran as well, causing Hospitals to face many financial problems. Objectives: Based on documented data on pharmacotherapy, costs, and its effectiveness, this study aimed to analyze the costs and outcomes of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 under pharmacotherapy in Iran. Methods: This research was a retrospective analytical descriptive study. Relevant data of the COVID-19 hospitalized patients’ were extracted from the Hospital’s Medical Records Department. All items of direct medical costs, such as visits, nursing services, consuming materials, laboratories, imaging, medical operations, medications, and beds, were extracted by reviewing COVID-19 hospitalized patients’ files in different wards of the Shohada Ashayer Hospital in Khorramabad city in 2021. Results: A total of 399 patients were examined in this study. The total direct medical costs per patient was 338.63 US$. Of note, the highest cost was related to medicine (32.56%), more than the cost of bed (22.77%). The most commonly used drugs were Lopinavir (95%) and Azithromycin (90%), and the highest medicine cost per patient was related to Immunoglobulin (64.32 US$) and Remdesivir (46.91 US$). Conclusion: Medicine and hospitalization costs accounted for the largest share of the total treatment costs of patients. Therefore, reducing bed costs requires home treatments and outpatient injections. Furthermore, due to rising drug costs, prescriptions should be based on standard treatment protocols.