Abstract
Aim: To examine the effects of drug use in the last 6 months
before contracting coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) on the clinical
course of COVID-19.
Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, which included 525
patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between March and November 2020 from
four different family health centers in Istanbul, the records of the
patients were retrospectively analyzed. In addition to demographic
information, all medications used by the patients in the last 6 months
before the diagnosis of COVID-19 were noted. The effects of demographic
data and medications on the three main endpoints of the study, which
were hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and
mortality, were analyzed by using logistic regression models.
Results: Of the 525 COVID-19 patients included in the study,
109 (20.8%) were hospitalized, 18 (3.4%) were treated in ICU, and 11
(2.1%) patients died. While increasing age is associated with
hospitalization, ICU admission and mortality; also, the presence of
COVID-19 thoracic computed tomography (CT) findings and polypharmacy
were associated with an increased hospitalization; living alone and the
presence of COVID-19 thoracic CT findings were associated with an
increased ICU admission. When adjusted for age and comorbidity, logistic
regression models revealed that medications for diabetes mellitus (DM)
increased the probability of hospitalization (OR=3.9, 95% CI 1.2-13.0),
and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) increased the probability of ICU
admission (OR=15.8, 95% CI 2.1-120.2) and mortality (OR=295.1, 95% CI
4.6-18946.6).
Conclusion: Previously utilization of DM medications and CCBs
may have negative effects on the clinical course of COVID-19.