TABLE 2

Changes in Prescription Dispensing to US Children After the COVID-19 Outbreak Among the Top 30 Drug Classes in 2019

CategoryaNo. Prescriptions Dispensed to Children in 2019 (% of the 299 188 743 Prescriptions Dispensed in 2019)Rank Among Top 30 Drug Classes in 2019Unadjusted Percentage ChangesbCoefficients From Segmented Regression Models
% Change in Dispensing (April to August 2020 Versus April to August 2019)% Change in Dispensing (September to December 2020 Versus September to December 2019)% Change in Dispensing (April to December 2020 Versus April to December 2019)InterceptChange per Month Before April 2020Level Change in April 2020Slope Change in April 2020
Infection-related drug classes 86 775 782 (29.0)c N/A −47.7 −55.0 −51.3 8 664 098* −33 362 −2 405 033* −138 928 
 Antibiotics, systemic 55 069 670 (18.4) 1 −53.6 −57.4 −55.6 5 255 662* −23 091 −1 932 216* −63 088 
 Anti-infectives, eye 5 306 098 (1.8) 15 −62.1 −64.8 −63.3 485 469* −971 −232 154* −6021 
 Antivirals, influenza 5 288 284 (1.8) 16 −95.0 −97.5 −97.0 1 144 047* 4460 −49 271 −34 117 
 Antitussives 4 566 339 (1.5) 19 −79.4 −76.5 −77.6 537 006* −98 −129 088 −22 199* 
 Antifungals, topical 4 345 542 (1.5) 20 −19.9 −17.3 −18.7 347 313* −114 −73 281* 1567 
 Antibiotics, topical 3 823 282 (1.3) 22 −20.9 −23.7 −22.1 263 804* 152 −71 086* −729 
 Steroids or anti-infectives, ear 1 855 130 (0.6) 29 −19.3 −37.0 −24.9 139 075* −753 −1594 −6911 
Chronic disease–related drug classes 136 055 210 (45.5)c N/A −15.0 −20.1 −17.4 11 147 525* 23 233 −1 426 780* −172 199 
 ADHD 37 490 152 (12.5) 2 −11.8 −11.7 −11.8 3 175 464* 2193 −299 742 −18 284 
 Antidepressants 19 391 873 (6.5) 3 −0.1 0.3 0.1 1 397 729* 10 098* −86 330 −5860 
 Antiasthmatics 17 252 144 (5.8) 4 −17.8 −30.3 −23.5 1 434 597* 2367 −158 616 −44 166* 
 Inhaled short-acting β-agonists 16 197 401 (5.4) 5 −34.0 −46.0 −40.2 1 423 413* 6180 −413 902* −47 861* 
 Oral corticosteroids 9 712 183 (3.2) 7 −55.4 −61.5 −58.6 807 312* −302 −391 616* −16 584 
 Antiepileptics 8 434 301 (2.8) 9 −4.6 −7.0 −5.7 664 618* 780 −16 278 −6017 
 Antipsychotics 6 308 122 (2.1) 13 −1.8 −4.6 −3.0 488 056* 1333* −4394 −5144 
 Antiulcerants 5 988 802 (2.0) 14 −30.1 −20.0 −25.8 542 343* −3607* −85 861* 2594 
 Human insulins and analogues 2 015 684 (0.7) 27 −4.1 −10.0 −6.8 154 956* 496* −894 −3352* 
 Thyroid preparations 1 894 477 (0.6) 28 −7.7 −10.7 −9.0 154 438* −192 −3736 −1592 
Other drug classes 76 357 751 (25.5)c N/A −19.3 −18.3 −18.9 6 453 152* −7410 −1 238 776* 25 423 
 Contraception, hormonal systemic 12 531 475 (4.2) 6 −6.6 −9.0 −7.7 949 103* −322 −42 499 −6756 
 Topical corticosteroids 9 072 247 (3.0) 8 −11.2 −6.5 −9.3 727 090* −1057 −102 214* 9567 
 Antihistamines, systemic 6 673 413 (2.2) 10 −18.5 −25.2 −21.6 505 892* 3310 −122 417* −9842 
 Antiacne 6 667 536 (2.2) 11 −5.1 6.8 0.2 481 511* 2512* −92 390* 12 244* 
 Nasal corticosteroids without anti-infectives 6 519 734 (2.2) 12 −28.1 −29.5 −28.7 532 770* 859 −179 388* −943 
  Serotonin antagonists, antiemetics, antinauseants 5 279 994 (1.8) 17 −55.4 −58.7 −57.1 489 627* −857 −192 892* −3900 
 Antirheumatics, nonsteroidal 4 676 976 (1.6) 18 −33.9 −28.9 −31.5 480 287* −4044 −113 007* 8393 
 Tranquilizers 3 870 226 (1.3) 21 −1.0 0.4 −0.4 287 194* 1334* −21 308 924 
 Nonnarcotic analgesics 3 361 137 (1.1) 23 −53.7 −58.8 −56.3 284 638* 1299 −154 205* −4540 
 Narcotic analgesics 2 718 567 (0.9) 24 −27.0 −12.3 −21.0 256 128* −3039* −53 509 7939 
 Vitamins and minerals 2 668 505 (0.9) 25 −10.0 −1.8 −6.4 249 445* −1332* −16 262 3782 
 Stomatologicals 2 361 589 (0.8) 26 −15.9 −2.7 −10.3 178 008* 494 −48 980 5023 
 Cardiac stimulants, excluding cardiac glycosides 1 444 083 (0.5) 30 −30.1 −8.0 −21.5 91 079* 5 −55 980* 6211* 
CategoryaNo. Prescriptions Dispensed to Children in 2019 (% of the 299 188 743 Prescriptions Dispensed in 2019)Rank Among Top 30 Drug Classes in 2019Unadjusted Percentage ChangesbCoefficients From Segmented Regression Models
% Change in Dispensing (April to August 2020 Versus April to August 2019)% Change in Dispensing (September to December 2020 Versus September to December 2019)% Change in Dispensing (April to December 2020 Versus April to December 2019)InterceptChange per Month Before April 2020Level Change in April 2020Slope Change in April 2020
Infection-related drug classes 86 775 782 (29.0)c N/A −47.7 −55.0 −51.3 8 664 098* −33 362 −2 405 033* −138 928 
 Antibiotics, systemic 55 069 670 (18.4) 1 −53.6 −57.4 −55.6 5 255 662* −23 091 −1 932 216* −63 088 
 Anti-infectives, eye 5 306 098 (1.8) 15 −62.1 −64.8 −63.3 485 469* −971 −232 154* −6021 
 Antivirals, influenza 5 288 284 (1.8) 16 −95.0 −97.5 −97.0 1 144 047* 4460 −49 271 −34 117 
 Antitussives 4 566 339 (1.5) 19 −79.4 −76.5 −77.6 537 006* −98 −129 088 −22 199* 
 Antifungals, topical 4 345 542 (1.5) 20 −19.9 −17.3 −18.7 347 313* −114 −73 281* 1567 
 Antibiotics, topical 3 823 282 (1.3) 22 −20.9 −23.7 −22.1 263 804* 152 −71 086* −729 
 Steroids or anti-infectives, ear 1 855 130 (0.6) 29 −19.3 −37.0 −24.9 139 075* −753 −1594 −6911 
Chronic disease–related drug classes 136 055 210 (45.5)c N/A −15.0 −20.1 −17.4 11 147 525* 23 233 −1 426 780* −172 199 
 ADHD 37 490 152 (12.5) 2 −11.8 −11.7 −11.8 3 175 464* 2193 −299 742 −18 284 
 Antidepressants 19 391 873 (6.5) 3 −0.1 0.3 0.1 1 397 729* 10 098* −86 330 −5860 
 Antiasthmatics 17 252 144 (5.8) 4 −17.8 −30.3 −23.5 1 434 597* 2367 −158 616 −44 166* 
 Inhaled short-acting β-agonists 16 197 401 (5.4) 5 −34.0 −46.0 −40.2 1 423 413* 6180 −413 902* −47 861* 
 Oral corticosteroids 9 712 183 (3.2) 7 −55.4 −61.5 −58.6 807 312* −302 −391 616* −16 584 
 Antiepileptics 8 434 301 (2.8) 9 −4.6 −7.0 −5.7 664 618* 780 −16 278 −6017 
 Antipsychotics 6 308 122 (2.1) 13 −1.8 −4.6 −3.0 488 056* 1333* −4394 −5144 
 Antiulcerants 5 988 802 (2.0) 14 −30.1 −20.0 −25.8 542 343* −3607* −85 861* 2594 
 Human insulins and analogues 2 015 684 (0.7) 27 −4.1 −10.0 −6.8 154 956* 496* −894 −3352* 
 Thyroid preparations 1 894 477 (0.6) 28 −7.7 −10.7 −9.0 154 438* −192 −3736 −1592 
Other drug classes 76 357 751 (25.5)c N/A −19.3 −18.3 −18.9 6 453 152* −7410 −1 238 776* 25 423 
 Contraception, hormonal systemic 12 531 475 (4.2) 6 −6.6 −9.0 −7.7 949 103* −322 −42 499 −6756 
 Topical corticosteroids 9 072 247 (3.0) 8 −11.2 −6.5 −9.3 727 090* −1057 −102 214* 9567 
 Antihistamines, systemic 6 673 413 (2.2) 10 −18.5 −25.2 −21.6 505 892* 3310 −122 417* −9842 
 Antiacne 6 667 536 (2.2) 11 −5.1 6.8 0.2 481 511* 2512* −92 390* 12 244* 
 Nasal corticosteroids without anti-infectives 6 519 734 (2.2) 12 −28.1 −29.5 −28.7 532 770* 859 −179 388* −943 
  Serotonin antagonists, antiemetics, antinauseants 5 279 994 (1.8) 17 −55.4 −58.7 −57.1 489 627* −857 −192 892* −3900 
 Antirheumatics, nonsteroidal 4 676 976 (1.6) 18 −33.9 −28.9 −31.5 480 287* −4044 −113 007* 8393 
 Tranquilizers 3 870 226 (1.3) 21 −1.0 0.4 −0.4 287 194* 1334* −21 308 924 
 Nonnarcotic analgesics 3 361 137 (1.1) 23 −53.7 −58.8 −56.3 284 638* 1299 −154 205* −4540 
 Narcotic analgesics 2 718 567 (0.9) 24 −27.0 −12.3 −21.0 256 128* −3039* −53 509 7939 
 Vitamins and minerals 2 668 505 (0.9) 25 −10.0 −1.8 −6.4 249 445* −1332* −16 262 3782 
 Stomatologicals 2 361 589 (0.8) 26 −15.9 −2.7 −10.3 178 008* 494 −48 980 5023 
 Cardiac stimulants, excluding cardiac glycosides 1 444 083 (0.5) 30 −30.1 −8.0 −21.5 91 079* 5 −55 980* 6211* 

N/A, not applicable.

a

Antidepressants include drugs such as selective serotonin or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. Antiasthmatics include drugs such as inhaled corticosteroids and montelukast. Antiulcerants include H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors. Antirheumatics (nonsteroidal) include drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Serotonin antagonists and antiemetics includes drugs such as ondansetron. Tranquilizers include benzodiazepines; these drugs were not considered to be chronic disease related by our definition because anxiety is not included in the Pediatric Medical Complexity Algorithm. Stomatologicals include drugs such as benzocaine and chlorhexidine. Thyroid preparations include drugs such as levothyroxine. Cardiac stimulants, excluding cardiac glycosides, include epinephrine autoinjectors.

b

Represents the No. prescriptions dispensed during the period in 2020 minus the No. prescriptions dispensed during the same period in 2019, divided by the No. prescriptions dispensed during the period in 2019. The raw Nos. for calculations of percentage changes are included in Supplemental Table 7.

c

Because only the top 30 drug classes in 2019 are shown, the percentage of dispensed prescriptions accounted for by each drug class category does not equal the sum of the percentages accounted for by the listed drug classes in the category.

*

P < .05.

View Large
Close Modal
This Feature Is Available To Subscribers Only

or Create an Account

Close Modal
Close Modal
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.
Accept