Brown Joshua D, Vouri Scott M, Manini Todd M
Center for Drug Evaluation & Safety, Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Center for Drug Evaluation & Safety, Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Res Social Adm Pharm. 2021 Aug;17(8):1478-1482. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.11.005. Epub 2020 Nov 12.
Speculation on benefits and harms of prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medications has been widespread during the SARS-CoV-2 (or COVID-19) pandemic. This community-based survey assessed self-reported changes in medications including those stopped, started, or if access had been impacted.
A survey was collected via Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap). The survey was advertised in the community through social media, email lists, websites, and post-cards. Survey responses were collected between 5/21/2020 and 6/24/2020. Variables included demographic characteristics such as age, sex, race, marital status, education, employment, income, and community type. Questions related to medication changes included: "Have you started any medication due to COVID-19?", "Have you stopped any medication due to COVID-19?" and "Have you had issues getting your prescription medications?". Respondents aged 50 years or older were included.
There were N = 1397 responses of which 1169 were older adults ≥50 years-old. Of these, 1141 responded to the medication changes survey questions and 28 had missing responses and were excluded from the survey sample for this analysis. Among these, 31 (2.7%) reported a medication change included 5 (0.4%) reported stopping a medication, 18 (1.6%) reported starting a medication, and 8 (0.7%) reported trouble obtaining medications. Medications started included mostly vitamins or other supplements including zinc (n = 9), vitamin C (6), and other supplements (3). Among prescription medications, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications (4) were reported as well as aspirin (1), losartan (1), and low dose naltrexone (1). One respondent reported unidentified homeopathy. There were no significant differences between those with medication changes and those with none.
In this community-based survey sample of over one thousand older adults, only a small percentage (2.7%; n = 31) reported any changes to medications during the pandemic. As essential workers during this crisis, pharmacists have played a critical role in providing medication information and continued access.
在严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2，即新冠病毒）大流行期间，关于处方药、非处方药和补充药物的益处与危害的猜测广泛存在。这项基于社区的调查评估了自我报告的用药变化情况，包括停药、开始用药或用药途径是否受到影响。
通过研究电子数据采集（REDCap）收集调查问卷。该调查通过社交媒体、电子邮件列表、网站和明信片在社区进行宣传。在2020年5月21日至2020年6月24日期间收集调查回复。变量包括年龄、性别、种族、婚姻状况、教育程度、就业情况、收入和社区类型等人口统计学特征。与用药变化相关的问题包括：“你是否因新冠病毒开始服用任何药物？”“你是否因新冠病毒停用任何药物？”以及“你在获取处方药方面是否遇到问题？”纳入年龄在50岁及以上的受访者。
共收到N = 1397份回复，其中1169份来自50岁及以上的老年人。其中，1141人回答了用药变化调查问题，28人回复缺失，在本次分析中被排除在调查样本之外。在这些人中，31人（2.7%）报告有用药变化，其中5人（0.4%）报告停药，18人（1.6%）报告开始用药，8人（0.7%）报告获取药物有困难。开始服用的药物主要是维生素或其他补充剂，包括锌（n = 9）、维生素C（6）和其他补充剂（3）。在处方药方面，报告有抗抑郁药和抗焦虑药（4）以及阿司匹林（1）、氯沙坦（1）和低剂量纳曲酮（1）。一名受访者报告使用了不明顺势疗法药物。有用药变化者与无用药变化者之间无显著差异。
在这个基于社区的一千多名老年人的调查样本中，只有一小部分（2.7%；n = 31）报告在大流行期间用药有任何变化。作为这场危机中的一线工作者，药剂师在提供用药信息和持续供应药物方面发挥了关键作用。
