The IMPACT of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Prescription Drug Use in Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris in Germany

TY - JOUR

T1 - The IMPACT of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Prescription Drug Use in Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris in Germany

AU - Kahn, Maria

AU - Papukchieva, Steffeni

AU - Jacyshyn-Owen, Elizabeth

AU - Grimm, Stefan

AU - Eberl, Markus

AU - Schneeweiss, Sebastian

AU - Otten, Marina

AU - Augustin, Matthias

AU - Friedrich, Benjamin

N1 - © 2023. The Author(s).

PY - 2023/11

Y1 - 2023/11

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Real-world evidence (RWE) data is increasingly important to generate rapid insights to effectively manage patient populations. Disruptions like the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may negatively impact the choice of medications used for managing chronic diseases such as psoriasis (PSO). Here, we explored the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sales volumes of treatment guideline-based PSO medication in Germany.METHODS: Patient-level pharmacy dispensing data from the Permea platform, covering approximately 44% of all community pharmacy dispensing in Germany, were analysed from 2019 through to 2021. Patient demographics and PSO indicated medication sales were assessed specifically before and during the pandemic in Germany.RESULTS: We included 6,865,852 sold PSO related drugs from April 2019 to March 2021. Medication sales increased during the pandemic compared with before the pandemic for treatment classes of first-line biological and second-line drugs. The increase was observed across all age groups, but monthly variations could not be detected. Furthermore, we observed increased sales in first-line biological and second-line medications when comparing low to high COVID-19 incidence state.CONCLUSION: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the PSO indicated medication sales increased for first-line biological and second-line treatment. This shows that despite the pandemic impact, there continues to be an increase in sales volume for biologics. Only German federal states with intermittently very high COVID-19 incidences show a stagnation in sales volume. The reasons for this need to be investigated in further studies to possibly gain a better understanding of the concerns and uncertainties of patients with PSO.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Real-world evidence (RWE) data is increasingly important to generate rapid insights to effectively manage patient populations. Disruptions like the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may negatively impact the choice of medications used for managing chronic diseases such as psoriasis (PSO). Here, we explored the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sales volumes of treatment guideline-based PSO medication in Germany.METHODS: Patient-level pharmacy dispensing data from the Permea platform, covering approximately 44% of all community pharmacy dispensing in Germany, were analysed from 2019 through to 2021. Patient demographics and PSO indicated medication sales were assessed specifically before and during the pandemic in Germany.RESULTS: We included 6,865,852 sold PSO related drugs from April 2019 to March 2021. Medication sales increased during the pandemic compared with before the pandemic for treatment classes of first-line biological and second-line drugs. The increase was observed across all age groups, but monthly variations could not be detected. Furthermore, we observed increased sales in first-line biological and second-line medications when comparing low to high COVID-19 incidence state.CONCLUSION: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the PSO indicated medication sales increased for first-line biological and second-line treatment. This shows that despite the pandemic impact, there continues to be an increase in sales volume for biologics. Only German federal states with intermittently very high COVID-19 incidences show a stagnation in sales volume. The reasons for this need to be investigated in further studies to possibly gain a better understanding of the concerns and uncertainties of patients with PSO.

U2 - 10.1007/s13555-023-01023-w

DO - 10.1007/s13555-023-01023-w

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 37710077

VL - 13

SP - 2609

EP - 2620

JO - DERMATOLOGY THER

JF - DERMATOLOGY THER

SN - 2193-8210

IS - 11

ER -