Publication date: Jul 17, 2024

To investigate the association between exposure to potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) and poor prognosis of COVID-19 in older adults, controlling for comorbidity and sociodemographic factors. Nationwide retrospective cohort study based on the national registry of COVID-19 patients, established through the linkage of South Korea’s national insurance claims database with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency registry of patients with COVID-19, up to 31 July 2020. A total of 2217 COVID-19 patients over 60 years of age who tested positive between 20 January 2022 and 4 June 2020. Exposure to PIM was defined based on any prescription record of PIM during the 30 days prior to the date of testing positive for COVID-19. Mortality and utilisation of critical care from the date of testing positive until the end of isolation. Among the 2217 COVID-19 patients over 60 years of age, 604 were exposed to PIM prior to infection. In the matched cohort of 583 pairs, PIM-exposed individuals exhibited higher rates of mortality (19. 7% vs 9. 8%, p

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