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Long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) prescribing trends during COVID-19 restrictions in Canada: a retrospective observational study.
McKee, Kyle A; Crocker, Candice E; Tibbo, Philip G.
  • McKee KA; Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, 5909 Veterans Memorial Lane, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 2E2, Canada.
  • Crocker CE; Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, 5909 Veterans Memorial Lane, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 2E2, Canada.
  • Tibbo PG; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
BMC Psychiatry ; 21(1): 633, 2021 12 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1635337
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on how mental health services are delivered to patients throughout Canada. The reduction of in-person healthcare services have created unique challenges for individuals with psychotic disorders that require regular clinic visits to administer and monitor long-acting injectable antipsychotic medications.

METHODS:

To better understand how LAI usage was impacted, national and provincial patient-level longitudinal prescribing data from Canadian retail pharmacies were used to examine LAI prescribing practices during the pandemic. Prescribing data on new starts of medication, discontinuations of medications, switches between medications, antipsychotic name, concomitant medications, payer plan, gender and age were collected from January 2019 to December 2020 for individuals ≥18-years of age, and examined by month, as well as by distinct pandemic related epochs characterized by varying degrees of public awareness, incidence of COVID-19 infections and public health restrictions.

RESULTS:

National, and provincial level data revealed that rates of LAI prescribing including new starts, discontinuations and switches between LAI products remained highly stable (i.e., no statistically significant differences) throughout the study period.

CONCLUSIONS:

Equal numbers of LAI new starts and discontinuations prior to and during the pandemic suggests prescribing of LAI antipsychotics, for those already in care, continued unchanged throughout the pandemic. The observed consistency of LAI prescribing contrasts with other areas of healthcare, such as cardiovascular and diabetes care, which experienced decreases in medication prescribing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Schizophrenia / Antipsychotic Agents / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adolescent / Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: BMC Psychiatry Journal subject: Psychiatry Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S12888-021-03646-9

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Schizophrenia / Antipsychotic Agents / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adolescent / Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: BMC Psychiatry Journal subject: Psychiatry Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S12888-021-03646-9