TRATAMENTO MEDICAMENTOSO DE PACIENTES HOSPITALIZADOS COM COVID-19: ANÁLISE EM UM HOSPITAL PÚBLICO DO TOCANTINS

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic required rapid therapeutic decision-making, often based on limited evidence. In Brazil, public hospitals faced additional challenges in adopting effective protocols. Objective: To evaluate the drug treatment used in hospitalized Covid-19 patients in a public hospital in Tocantins, considering the association between the therapeutic classes administered and clinical outcomes. Method: A quantitative, descriptive, and retrospective study, based on the analysis of 197 medical records of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19, hospitalized at the Hospital Geral de Palmas (TO) between April and December 2020. The statistical analysis used Cox Regression and normality tests. Results: Most patients were male (66.5%), with a mean age of 58 years, with a standard deviation of 16. The mean length of hospital stay was 10 days, with a standard deviation of 7. Death occurred in 37.1% of cases. The most used medication classes were antibiotics (98.5%), corticosteroids (85.8%), and anticoagulants (84.8%). Polypharmacy (use of ≥5 classes) was observed in 64% of cases. Conclusion: The widespread use of antibiotics and corticosteroids reflects clinical practices adopted in the early months of the pandemic, with a focus on polypharmacy and its impact on clinical outcomes. Studies like this subsidize the revision of therapeutic protocols and strengthen the rational use of medicines in pandemic contexts.