Choppy waters: The importance of accounting for shifting drug utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic in future observational drug-related studies.

Abstract

The 2019 novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused a large shift in the delivery of healthcare globally, including prescription drugs. Media reports of drug stockpiling, anecdotal reports of an uptick in commonly used medications and off-label use of medications to treat COVID-19, have led to rapidly changing drug utilization trends.1 We have observed shifting drug utilization trends in a number of our ongoing projects globally. These shifting drug utilization trends should be of consideration for anyone conducting future observational drug-related studies - we write this Reflective Piece, Hot Topic as a word of caution to our colleagues.