Luis E Vasquez-Elera1, Virgilio E Failoc-Rojas2, Raisa N Martinez-Rivera3, Noelia Morocho-Alburqueque4, Mario S Temoche-Rivas4, Mario J Valladares-Garrido5. 1. MD, Gastroenterology Service, Cayetano Heredia Hospital, 150 Independencia Avenue, Piura 200104, Peru. 2. MD, MSc(c), Research Unit for Generation and Synthesis Evidence in Health, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, 505 La Fontana Avenue, Lima 15012, Peru. 3. MD, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura, Peru, Scientific Society of Medical Students of National University of Piura, Marcelino Castro Gamboa Avenue, Piura 15806, Peru. 4. MD, National University of Piura, Piura, Peru, Scientific Society of Medical Students of National University of Piura, Marcelino Castro Gamboa Avenue, Piura 15806, Peru. 5. MD, Universidad Norbert Wiener, 440 Arequipa Avenue, Lima 15046, Peru.
Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to identify factors associated with self-medication in patients with COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using medical records of patients with COVID-19 who self-medicated before admission to a hospital in Piura, Peru. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using generalized linear models with Poisson distribution family, log link function, and robust variance. Results: Out of 301 patients, 165 (54.8%) self-medicated before hospital admission, being more frequent self-medication with ivermectin (85.5%) and azithromycin (71.5%). The frequency of self-medication in those aged between 30-59 years was 2.53-fold higher than in those between 18-29 years. Male patients, dyslipidemia, smoking, and hepatic steatosis were associated with self-medication. Clinical characteristics associated with self-medication were fever, cough, headache, anosmia, dysgeusia, nausea/vomiting, and gastroesophageal reflux. Conclusions: A high frequency of self-medication before hospital admission was observed in Peruvian patients with COVID-19, mainly of drugs without proven efficacy. GERMS.
Introduction: This study aimed to identify factors associated with self-medication in patients with COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using medical records of patients with COVID-19 who self-medicated before admission to a hospital in Piura, Peru. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using generalized linear models with Poisson distribution family, log link function, and robust variance. Results: Out of 301 patients, 165 (54.8%) self-medicated before hospital admission, being more frequent self-medication with ivermectin (85.5%) and azithromycin (71.5%). The frequency of self-medication in those aged between 30-59 years was 2.53-fold higher than in those between 18-29 years. Male patients, dyslipidemia, smoking, and hepatic steatosis were associated with self-medication. Clinical characteristics associated with self-medication were fever, cough, headache, anosmia, dysgeusia, nausea/vomiting, and gastroesophageal reflux. Conclusions: A high frequency of self-medication before hospital admission was observed in Peruvian patients with COVID-19, mainly of drugs without proven efficacy. GERMS.
Entities:
Keywords:
Peru; SARS-CoV-2; epidemiology; public health, environmental and occupational health; risk factors
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