Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic massively impacted Scotland’s healthcare system which therefore lead to changes in antidiabetic utilisation in primary care. There is a lack of evidence on the long-term impact of COVID-19 on prescribing levels of antidiabetics in Scotland.
Methods
A segmented regression analysis was applied on monthly dispensed antidiabetic prescriptions using the Prescription Cost Analysis dataset (March 2019 – August 2024). Antidiabetics utilisation was measured using number of items dispensed per 1000 inhabitants (NTI) and defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID).
Results
Segmented regression analysis demonstrated an increase in the baseline trend of NTI for total antidiabetics and the level immediately after the first lockdown, however, not meeting statistical significance. Followed by a reduction in the time after the first lockdown, ending with a non-significant increase immediately after the second lockdown and the time trend after the second lockdown.
In terms of DID, there was an increase in the baseline trend of total antidiabetics, the level change immediately after the first and second lockdowns and the time after the second lockdown, but none of which met statistical significance. Furthermore, a reduction of total antidiabetic medication prescribing in the time after the first lockdown.
Conclusion
Utilisation of antidiabetics appears to have been affected, albeit not significant, by the lockdown measures which were put in place in 2020, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Antidiabetic utilisation was noted to have increased in the months following the second wave lockdown suggestive of the pandemic restrictions becoming less strict.
The COVID-19 pandemic massively impacted Scotland’s healthcare system which therefore lead to changes in antidiabetic utilisation in primary care. There is a lack of evidence on the long-term impact of COVID-19 on prescribing levels of antidiabetics in Scotland.
Methods
A segmented regression analysis was applied on monthly dispensed antidiabetic prescriptions using the Prescription Cost Analysis dataset (March 2019 – August 2024). Antidiabetics utilisation was measured using number of items dispensed per 1000 inhabitants (NTI) and defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID).
Results
Segmented regression analysis demonstrated an increase in the baseline trend of NTI for total antidiabetics and the level immediately after the first lockdown, however, not meeting statistical significance. Followed by a reduction in the time after the first lockdown, ending with a non-significant increase immediately after the second lockdown and the time trend after the second lockdown.
In terms of DID, there was an increase in the baseline trend of total antidiabetics, the level change immediately after the first and second lockdowns and the time after the second lockdown, but none of which met statistical significance. Furthermore, a reduction of total antidiabetic medication prescribing in the time after the first lockdown.
Conclusion
Utilisation of antidiabetics appears to have been affected, albeit not significant, by the lockdown measures which were put in place in 2020, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Antidiabetic utilisation was noted to have increased in the months following the second wave lockdown suggestive of the pandemic restrictions becoming less strict.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 19 Mar 2025 |
| Event | European Drug Utilisation Resarch Group Conference 2025 - Uppsala, Sweden Duration: 1 Jul 2025 → 4 Jul 2025 |
Conference
| Conference | European Drug Utilisation Resarch Group Conference 2025 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Sweden |
| City | Uppsala |
| Period | 1/07/25 → 4/07/25 |
Keywords
- covid-19
- prescribing trends
- antidiabetic medication