Evaluation of Neuropsychiatric outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in a nationwide Veterans Health Administration cohort.

Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 have an increased risk of developing psychiatric symptoms associated with post-COVID-19 syndrome. We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 hospitalization on neuropsychiatric healthcare utilization as well as new-onset depression and dementia. This nationwide, retrospective, observational cohort study included hospitalized COVID-19 patients aged 18 years or older across the Veterans Health Administration database from January 1st, 2020 through January 1st, 2022. The COVID-19 group consisted of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 with a positive test within seven days of the hospitalization. The control group consisted of patients hospitalized for reasons other than COVID-19 without a prior positive test or during the study duration. Propensity scores were utilized for 1:1 matching. This study included 50,805 patients in each matched cohort. Average patient population was 69 years old with ∼93 % male. The primary outcome of psychiatry-related hospitalization incidence rates were significantly higher in the COVID-19 group at both 90 days and 180 days. There was also a significant increase in the incidence outpatient mental health visits at 180 days in the COVID-19 cohort. Significantly higher risk of new-onset depression and new-onset dementia in the COVID-19 hospitalization group at 180 days as compared to the non-COVID-19 cohort was noted.

Evaluating the Association of Montelukast Use on Neuropsychiatry-Related Healthcare Utilization and Depression in COVID-19-Hospitalized Veterans: A Nationwide VA Observational Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Montelukast's new boxed warning for neuropsychiatric events questions its use in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to increased risk for new-onset psychiatric diagnoses. OBJECTIVE: We aim to evaluate the impact of using montelukast in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on neuropsychiatry-related healthcare utilization and depression. METHODS: This retrospective nationwide observational cohort study using the Veterans Health Administration database included patients from January 1, 2020, through July 1, 2021. The treatment cohorts consisted of patients with and without montelukast use prior to COVID-19 hospitalization and matched using propensity score (PS) to two control cohorts: patients with COVID-19-related hospitalization without prior montelukast use and patients with prior montelukast use who were hospitalized for reasons other than COVID-19. The primary outcome of psychiatric hospitalizations at 90 days and 180 days and mental health visits at 180 days were compared using Poisson or negative binomial regression. Secondary outcomes of new-onset depression and new use of antidepressants were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: After PS matching, a total of 415 patients were included in COVID-19 with and without montelukast matched cohort and 409 patients in montelukast with and without COVID-19-related hospitalization matched cohorts. For the primary outcomes, inpatient psychiatric hospitalization at 90 days [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 95% CI 1.79 (1.36-2.36)] and 180 days [IRR 95% CI 1.79 (1.32-2.25)] and mental health visits at 180 days [IRR 95% CI 1.72 (1.45-2.03)] were significantly higher in the montelukast with COVID-19 hospitalization group compared with those hospitalized without COVID-19. No difference in primary outcomes were noted in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 with and without use of montelukast. No significant difference was found in the secondary outcomes between either comparator group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with prior montelukast use who were hospitalized with COVID-19 appeared to have increased rate of neuropsychiatry-related healthcare utilization.