Statistical study of drug consumption before and during COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction. The consumption of certain medications, such as anticoagulants, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and analgesics, increased significantly during the successive waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzes the consumption of these medications over two periods: before the pandemic (2018–2019) and during the pandemic (2020–2021). Materials and Methods. Data were collected from the Mohamed Boudiaf Public Hospital (EPH) in Barika. These data include information on the consumed medications, the number of admitted patients, and some lab studies justifying prescriptions. Medication consumption was compared between the two periods based on the number of patients, and a detailed analysis of each drug class was conducted to identify trends and predict future usage patterns. Results. The number of patients admitted to the hospital increased between 2018 (27%) and 2019 (31%) but decreased in 2020 (21%) and 2021 (21%). Despite this decline, medication consumption rose significantly. Anticoagulants: 15% (2018), 16% (2019), 26% (2020), 43% (2021). Anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics: 11% (2018), 23% (2019), 30% (2020), 36% (2021). Antibiotics: 14% (2018), 14% (2019), 33% (2020), 39% (2021). Conclusion. The increased consumption of these medications is closely linked to the successive waves of COVID-19, marked by peaks during critical periods. These findings highlight the pandemic's impact on prescribing practices and the management of medical resources.