Naslov
The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on benzodiazepine prescribing: preliminary results (BENZOVID study)

Autori
Bužančić I, Pejaković T. I, Ortner Hadžiabdić M.

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Skup
FIP Pharmacy Practice Research Virtual Summer Meeting for PhD students, Postdoctoral fellows, and Supervisors

Mjesto i datum
Online, 24.06.2021

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
benzodiazepin ; Covid-19, benzovid

Sažetak
Ntroduction Prolonged use of benzodiazepines is linked to unfavourable outcomes, including tolerance, dependence, memory impairment and psychomotor retardation. It is expected that COVID-19 will have a negative impact on mental health which could lead to increased prescribing and use of benzodiazepines. Community pharmacist’s role in safe use of medicine is to recognise potential overuse, educate patients, collaborate with prescribers, and suggest deprescribing as a mean to combat inappropriate use. Objectives To compare benzodiazepine dispensing between the COVID-19 pandemic period and the pre-pandemic period in a community pharmacy in Croatia. Methods A retrospective cohort study of benzodiazepine prescriptions was performed in a community pharmacy in Zagreb, Croatia. Dispensing data was collected for patients who filled-out two or more prescriptions for benzodiazepines, prescribed for anxiety disorders during the period of COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020.-March 2021.) and preCOVID-19 (April 2019.-March 2020.) period. Collected data, included: age, sex, number of medicines, type of benzodiazepines, and comorbidities. Patients prescribed antidepressants, antipsychotics, or anticonvulsives alongside benzodiazepines were excluded Results 170 patients were identified and 91 were included (54.2%). 68.1% were female (median age 66 (IQR 57- 72)), 51.6% used more than five medicines, 56.0% were older than 65 years, 29.7% had more than five comorbidities, and 37.4% used two or more different benzodiazepines concomitantly. In the COVID-19 cohort 28.4% new patients were identified. Most commonly used benzodiazepines were diazepam (41.8%) and alprazolam (17.6%). No statistically significant differences were found between cohorts in age, sex, type of benzodiazepines, or number of medicines. One third of patients (30.8%) used benzodiazepines for more than four consecutive months during the COVID-19 period. Conclusion Preliminary results show an increase in number of patients who started using benzodiazepines during COVID-19. Pharmacist should focus on early identifying potential deprescribing candidates, especially in vulnerable patients groups, such as elderly patients, patients with polypharmacy or patients using potentially inappropriate medicines.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Farmacija

POVEZANOST RADA