Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Trends and Characteristics of Blood Pressure Prescription Fills Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.
Yang, Peter K; Park, SoYoun; Jackson, Sandra L; Attipoe-Dorcoo, Sharon; Gray, Elizabeth; Ritchey, Matthew D; Sperling, Laurence S.
Affiliation
  • Yang PK; Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
  • Park S; University of North Carolina, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  • Jackson SL; Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
  • Attipoe-Dorcoo S; Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
  • Gray E; Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
  • Ritchey MD; The Bizzell Group, Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Sperling LS; Division of Health Informatics and Surveillance, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Am J Hypertens ; 36(8): 439-445, 2023 07 14.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37086191
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare in the United States and raised concerns about certain antihypertensives, and may have impacted both prescribing practices and access to blood pressure (BP) medications. METHODS: We assessed trends in BP prescription fills before and during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, using cross-sectional data for BP fills and tablets in the IQVIA (IMS Health) National Prescription Audit® database. Drugs filled via retail (92% coverage), mail-order (78% coverage), and long-term care (72% coverage) channels from January 2018 through December 2020 were included. Data were projected nationally and by state. RESULTS: Between 2.9 and 3.4 billion BP tablets were dispensed monthly until February 2020, increasing sharply to 3.8 billion in March 2020 and declining to 3.5 billion in April, then increasing at 3-month intervals until December 2020. The number of tablets per fill increased slightly over time, with the largest increase (from 66.7 to 68.6) during February-March, 2020. Tablets were dispensed through retail channels (99.7 billion), mail-order (14.7 billion), and long-term care (5.3 billion). Rates of patients initiating new medications decreased during 2020 compared to prior years. Fills did not vary significantly by drug class. CONCLUSIONS: A sharp increase in BP fills occurred with COVID-19 emergence, suggesting patients may have secured medications in preparation for potential access limitations. A decrease in new fills, indicating decreased initiation and/or modification of treatment regimens, suggests need for efforts to re-engage patients in the healthcare system and provide alternative ways to obtain medication refills and adjustments.
Subject(s)
Key words

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational_studies / Prevalence_studies / Risk_factors_studies Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: America do norte Language: En Journal: Am J Hypertens Journal subject: ANGIOLOGIA Year: 2023 Document type: Article Affiliation country: United States Country of publication: United States

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational_studies / Prevalence_studies / Risk_factors_studies Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: America do norte Language: En Journal: Am J Hypertens Journal subject: ANGIOLOGIA Year: 2023 Document type: Article Affiliation country: United States Country of publication: United States