A population-based study of incident prescribing for hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension in Scotland: is the healthcare system recovering from the impact of COVID-19?

The observed increase in new treatments for drugs to treat hypercholesterolemia and hypertension suggests recovery of the healthcare system in Scotland following the COVID-19 pandemic. These higher prescribing rates post-pandemic hypothesise potential long-term sequelae associated with COVID-19. The findings demonstrate the potential for improved pharmacotherapy strategies that address both the backlog of untreated cases and new-onset conditions linked to COVID-19. This underscores the need for ongoing surveillance and flexible healthcare responses to manage emerging health challenges effectively. Additionally, our findings suggest novel research areas that could offer a more comprehensive understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic's influence on the prescribing patterns of these widely used medications.