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COVID-19

Session: Poster Session A

(113) Investigation of the Consumption Trend of Inhalants Used in the Treatment of Obstructive Airway Diseases During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Monday, August 26, 2024
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM CEST
Location: Convention Hall II

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Onur Gultekin, MD

    Resident Physician
    Department of Medical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Turkey

    • Co-Author(s)

  • NK

    N. Ipek Kirmizi Sonmez

    Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Bahcesehir University, Turkey

  • YB

    Yelda Basbug

    Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Turkey

  • AA

    Ahmet Akici

    Department of Medical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Turkey

  • VA

    Volkan Aydin

    Department of Medical Pharmacology, International School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Turkey

Background: Non-routine practices/restrictions have been used during the COVID-19 pandemic. This may be reflected in access to the drugs used in chronic conditions, like obstructive airway diseases.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the consumption trend of inhalant drugs used in the treatment of obstructive airway diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic period in Turkey.

Methods: In this nationwide study, data on inhaled drugs for obstructive airway disease (i-DOADs) (ATC-3 coded: R03A and R03B) sold on a monthly outpatient basis between 01.01.2017-28.02.2023 were obtained from IQVIA-Turkey. The average monthly utilization levels and costs in euros of these medicines in the “before restrictions” (BfR, 01.01.2017-29.02.2020), “during restrictions” (DuR, 01.03.2020-28.02.2022), and “after restrictions” (AfR, 01.03.2022-28.02.2023) were determined. The utilization trend was investigated with the DID (defined daily dose per 1000 inhabitants) unit of measurement, calculated based on the defined daily dose based on box sales data.

Results: Total i-DOAD consumption was found to be 54.1±7.9 DID in the BfR, 59.7±10.2 DID in the DuR (p>0.05) and 57.7±11.7 DID in the AfR (p>0.05). A similar pattern was observed in glucocorticoids, the most used drug group (19.2±3.2 DID, 20.5±3.8 DID, 20.5±4.3 DID, respectively, p>0.05). Inhaled anticholinergic drugs were utilized at a level of 16.1±2.3 DID in the BfR, 19.4±3.3 DID in the DuR (p < 0.001 vs. BfR) and 18.1±3.6 DID in the AfR (p>0.05). The mean cost of i-DOAD increased from €30.7±4.9 million/month in the BfR to €33.4±6.0 million/month in DuR (p>0.05) and reached €35.7±7.7 million/month in the AfR (p < 0.05 vs. BfR). When the cost of inhaled anticholinergic drugs was analyzed, it was found that the average monthly cost of inhaled anticholinergic drugs was €4.6±0.8 million/month in BfR, €4.5±0.7 million/month in DuR (p>0.05) and €4.0±0.9 million/month in AfR (p>0.05).

Conclusions: In this study, it was revealed that except anticholinergic drugs, inhaled drug consumption used in the treatment of obstructive airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remained relatively stable during the critical periods of the pandemic. The consumption of inhaled anticholinergic drugs, known to be more preferred in COPD exhibited an increasing trend. This may suggest that the conditions that cause the need for mainly bronchodilation in COPD may have been exacerbated more than in other obstructive airway diseases.