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Sales of "COVID kit" drugs and adverse drug reactions reported by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency.
Hentschke-Lopes, Marina; Botton, Mariana R; Borges, Pâmella; Freitas, Martiela; Mancuso, Aline Castello Branco; Matte, Ursula.
  • Hentschke-Lopes M; Laboratório de Células, Tecidos e Genes, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brasil.
  • Botton MR; Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil.
  • Borges P; Laboratório de Células, Tecidos e Genes, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brasil.
  • Freitas M; Laboratório de Células, Tecidos e Genes, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brasil.
  • Mancuso ACB; Laboratório de Células, Tecidos e Genes, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brasil.
  • Matte U; Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil.
Cad Saude Publica ; 38(7): e00001022, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1963142
ABSTRACT
Off-label use of azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine, and ivermectin (the "COVID kit") has been suggested for COVID-19 treatment in Brazil without clinical or scientific evidence of efficacy. These drugs have known adverse drug reactions (ADR). This study aimed to analyze if the sales of drugs in the "COVID kit" are correlated to the reported number of ADR after the COVID-19 pandemic began. Data was obtained from the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) website on reported sales and ADRs for azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine, and ivermectin for all Brazilian states. The period from March 2019 to February 2020 (before the pandemic) was compared to that from March 2020 to February 2021 (during the pandemic). Trend adjustment was performed for time series data and cross-correlation analysis to investigate correlation between sales and ADR within the same month (lag 0) and in the following months (lag 1 and lag 2). Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to assess the magnitude of the correlations. After the pandemic onset, sales of all investigated drugs increased significantly (69.75% for azithromycin, 10,856,481.39% for hydroxychloroquine, and 12,291,129.32% for ivermectin). ADR levels of all medications but azithromycin were zero before the pandemic, but increased after its onset. Cross-correlation analysis was significant in lag 1 for all drugs nationwide. Spearman's correlation was moderate for azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine but absent for ivermectin. Data must be interpreted cautiously since no active search for ADR was performed. Our results show that the increased and indiscriminate use of "COVID kit" during the pandemic correlates to an increased occurrence of ADRs.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Coronavirus Infections / Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / COVID-19 Drug Treatment Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: South America / Brazil Language: English Journal: Cad Saude Publica Journal subject: Public Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 0102-311XEN001022

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Coronavirus Infections / Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / COVID-19 Drug Treatment Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: South America / Brazil Language: English Journal: Cad Saude Publica Journal subject: Public Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 0102-311XEN001022