Evidence-based prescription of corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients: A comparison between general medicine and other specialty in Japan

Kota Sakaguchi; Takashi Watari; Yasuharu Tokuda

doi:10.1002/jgf2.602

Evidence-based prescription of corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients: A comparison between general medicine and other specialty in Japan

J Gen Fam Med. 2022 Dec 30;24(2):135-138. doi: 10.1002/jgf2.602. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Kota Sakaguchi¹, Takashi Watari^{1

2

3}, Yasuharu Tokuda^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ General Medicine Center Shimane University Hospital Shimane Japan.
² Medicine Service VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System Ann Arbor Michigan USA.
³ Department of Medicine University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor Michigan USA.
⁴ Muribushi Okinawa Clinical Training Center Okinawa Japan.
⁵ Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research Tokyo Japan.

Abstract

Background: The difference of evidence-based prescription for COVID-19 patients between general medicine and other specialty in Japan is unclear.

Methods: A retrospective observational study using a hospital-based administrative database was conducted for the differences between departments for prescriptions of glucocorticoids in COVID-19 patients.

Results: Of 65,156 patients, 23,348 met indication for glucocorticoids. General medicine physicians in Japan were more likely to prescribe corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients than other departments after its evidence was published (adjusted odds ratio, 1.32; p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.56).

Conclusions: General medicine physicians were more likely to practice evidence-based care for COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: COVID‐19; glucocorticoids; pandemic; pharmacoepidemiology; prescription.