The association between suspected long-COVID and stimulant prescribing in the United States

Psychiatry Res. 2024 Jan:331:115686. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115686. Epub 2023 Dec 21.

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to determine the association between suspected long-COVID and receipt of a stimulant prescription among persons diagnosed with COVID-19 and to describe clinical and demographic factors associated with receiving a stimulant prescription.

Methods: US patients 18 and older who had a COVID-19 diagnosis or a positive COVID-19 PCR test from April 1st, 2020 through December 21st, 2022 recorded in a national electronic health record data set obtained from TriNetX were assessed. Comparison subjects were propensity score matched on baseline covariates to those with a symptom of or diagnosis of long-COVID. A Cox Proportional Hazards models was used to estimate the influence of long-COVID on stimulant prescription receipt.

Results: Those with long-COVID (n = 65,329) were twice as likely to be prescribed a stimulant as persons with only acute COVID-19 (n = 189,438, HR=2.162; 1.929-2.423). Among persons with long-COVID, persons with new onset ADHD (HR=7.196; 5.749- 9.007), opioid-related disorders (HR=2.140; 1.264-3.621) and mood disorders (HR=1.649; 1.336-2.035) were more likely to be prescribed a stimulant.

Conclusion: Further research describing the risks associated with increased stimulant use among persons with long-COVID is warranted.

Keywords: Long–COVID; Stimulant.

MeSH terms

  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / drug therapy
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants* / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants