학술논문

Changes in anticoagulant and antiplatelet drug supply at US hospitals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2018-2021).
Document Type
Article
Source
American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. Jun2023, Vol. 80 Issue 11, p692-698. 7p. 1 Chart, 1 Graph.
Subject
*HOSPITALS
*CONFIDENCE intervals
*INVENTORY shortages
*ACQUISITION of property
*ANTICOAGULANTS
*MEDICAL supplies
*SUPPLY chains
*PLATELET aggregation inhibitors
*TIME series analysis
*DESCRIPTIVE statistics
*DRUGS
*COVID-19 pandemic
Language
ISSN
1079-2082
Abstract
Purpose Antithrombotic agents have a role in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment, but the pandemic disrupted medication supply. This study examined changes in the volume of oral and parenteral anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications at US hospitals during the pandemic. Methods IQVIA National Sales Perspective (NSP) data was used to determine the monthly volume of anticoagulants and antiplatelets purchased at US hospitals between January 2018 and February 2021. Mean monthly medication volumes, reported as extended units (EUs), and year-over-year changes in medication volume were determined. A single-group interrupted time series analysis was used to evaluate changes in the rate of growth of monthly medication volumes before (January 2019-February 2020) and during (March 2020-February 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Overall, there was a 43.4% decline in the total volume of anticoagulants and antiplatelets at US hospitals in March 2020, driven by a decrease in heparin volume. Mean monthly volumes decreased significantly (P < 0.05) for parenteral anticoagulants (–106,691,340 EU [95% CI, –200,033,910 to –13,348,780]), oral anticoagulants (–354,800 EU [95% CI, –612,180 to –97,420]), and parenteral antiplatelets (–391,880 EU [95% CI, –535,420 to –248,330]). During the pandemic, the monthly volume of oral anticoagulants, parenteral anticoagulants, and parenteral antiplatelets grew significantly more than in the prepandemic period. This growth was primarily seen in volumes of apixaban, argatroban, enoxaparin, heparin, eptifibatide, and tirofiban. Apixaban and heparin volumes continued a prepandemic uptrend, while argatroban and eptifibatide volumes reversed trend. Conclusion Rapid changes in anticoagulant and antiplatelet volume at US hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic highlight the need for institutional protocols to manage fluctuating medication volume demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]