Drug utilization pattern of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in a tertiary care center

ABSTRACT

[...]in a small proportion of cases like immune deficient patients or those with comorbid conditions, the disease can progress to a more severe stage characterized by a dysregulated immune response with hyperinflammation with subsequent development of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Real-time polymerase chain reaction test of the oropharyngeal/ nasal swab was the confirmatory laboratory evidence to identify COVID-19 infection. [5] In India, a wide range of repurposed drugs including azithromycin, remdesivir, dexamethasone, and even multivitamins such as zinc and Vitamin C was recommended for the management of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The demographic and prescription characteristics such as age, sex, SPO2 at the time of admission, CT - chest score if available, duration of stay in the hospital, details of treatment received with the number of days of treatment for each drug, route of administration, presence of comorbid conditions, and adverse reactions if any, until the occurrence of a clinical endpoint, namely, inpatient death or non-fatal discharge were all collected.