Medication Use Patterns Associated With Post-COVID-19 Condition: Results From a Longitudinal Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES: While the pandemic has increased spending on vaccination and healthcare, medication use patterns remain less well understood and warrant investigation.

METHODS: Data from the Dutch Lifelines COVID-19 cohort (N=76,503) was analyzed to assess medication use among adults. Participants completed three waves of questionnaires (June 2021, Feb/March 2022, May/June 2022) regarding medication use over the past three months. Seven medication groups were examined: antihypertensives, cholesterol medication, corticosteroids, cough medication, diabetes medication, inhalers, and painkillers. We compared participants without COVID-19, COVID-19, and post-COVID-19 condition (PCC).

RESULTS: Results indicate increased medication use in the COVID-19 and PCC groups compared to the group without COVID-19, with up to 3 additional days of use per patient over a period of nine months. Antihypertensive and corticosteroid (non-tablet-form) use increased equally in COVID-19 and PCC groups, while corticosteroid and cholesterol tablets were more frequently used by the COVID-19 group compared to the group without COVID-19. Conversely, cough, diabetes, inhalers, and painkiller medications were more commonly used by the PCC group than the COVID-19 group, with both groups exceeding the usage of the group without COVID-19. Specifically, metformin was the most commonly used diabetes medication in the PCC-group, averaging seven days per patient over the three waves, compared to four and two days in the COVID-19 and no-COVID-19 group, respectively. Among painkillers, paracetamol was the most used in the PCC-group, averaging 14 days per patient, compared to eight days in the COVID-19 group and three days in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to analyze medication costs using a methodology that accounts for indications. By fully understanding the economic impact of medication use patterns associated with PCC, stakeholders can make informed decisions to improve health outcomes, ensure equal access to care and preserve economic stability throughout and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.