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Table 2 Comparison of the number of prescriptions between 2019 and 2020 from March to December

From: Opioid prescribing among aged care residents during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis using general practice health records in Australia

Type of medication

Number of scripts per year

% Increase

Scripts per 100 persons per month (mean, 95% CI)

p-value* for the mean difference

 

2019

2020

 

2019

2020

 

Whole study sample (n = 10,506 person in 2019; n = 11,154 persons in 2020)

 Any type

71,829

90,897

26.5

233 (231, 236)

258 (255, 260)

p < 0.0001

 Opioids

13,537

20,730

53.1

182 (180, 185)

191 (189, 194)

p < 0.0001

 Opioids over 50 mg/day OME

1,399

2,346

67.7

174 (167, 182)

179 (173, 185)

p = 0.35

Sub-group of residents in both years (n = 7,340)

 Any type

53,870

61,984

15.1

226 (224, 229)

243 (240, 245)

p < 0.0001

 Opioids

10,190

15,578

52.9

188 (185, 191)

198 (195, 201)

p < 0.0001

 Opioids over 50 mg/day OME

1,071

1,478

38.0

185 (177, 193)

191 (183, 199)

p = 0.29

  1. Statistical difference between the groups was calculated based on ANCOVA, after adjusting for Month (March to December), age group (65–69 y, 70–74 y, 75–79 y, 80–84 y, and 85 y +), sex (female, male), SES (low, middle, high), regionality (metropolitan and regional areas), and state (New South Wales, NSW; Victoria)