Demographics and outcomes of initial phase of COVID-19 Medicines Delivery Units across 4 UK centres during peak B1.1.529 omicron epidemic: a service evaluation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Demographics and outcomes of initial phase of COVID-19 Medicines Delivery Units across 4 UK centres during peak B1.1.529 omicron epidemic: a service evaluation

AU - Brown, M

AU - Saund, J

AU - Qureshi, A

AU - Plowright, M

AU - Drury, K

AU - Gahir, J

AU - Simpson, T

AU - Newman, T

AU - Adams, K

AU - Galloway, J

AU - Durairaj, K

AU - Elgizouli, K

AU - Rampling, T

AU - Cole, J

AU - Easom, N

AU - Goodman, A

AU - Marks, M

PY - 2022/10/6

Y1 - 2022/10/6

N2 - Abstract Introduction COVID-19 Medicine Delivery Units (CMDU) were established in late December 2021 to deliver early antiviral therapy to patients classified as at risk with the aim of preventing hospitalisation. Methods We performed a service evaluation at four CMDUs in England. We assessed demographics and triage outcomes of CMDU referral, uptake of antiviral therapy and the rate of subsequent hospitalisations within two weeks of CMDU referral. Results Over a three week period 4,788 patients were referred and 3,989 were ultimately assessed by a CMDU. Overall, 832 of the patients referred (17%) were judged eligible for treatment and 628 (13%) were ultimately prescribed an antiviral agent. The overall rate of admission within 14 days was 1%. Patients who were admitted were significantly older than those who did not require hospitalisation. Of patients prescribed molnupiravir and sotrovimab 1.8% and 3.2% were admitted respectively. Conclusion There were a high volume of referrals to CMDU service during the the initial surge of the Omicron wave in the UK. A minority of patients were judged to be eligible for therapy. In a highly vaccinated population, the overall hospitalisation rate was low.

AB - Abstract Introduction COVID-19 Medicine Delivery Units (CMDU) were established in late December 2021 to deliver early antiviral therapy to patients classified as at risk with the aim of preventing hospitalisation. Methods We performed a service evaluation at four CMDUs in England. We assessed demographics and triage outcomes of CMDU referral, uptake of antiviral therapy and the rate of subsequent hospitalisations within two weeks of CMDU referral. Results Over a three week period 4,788 patients were referred and 3,989 were ultimately assessed by a CMDU. Overall, 832 of the patients referred (17%) were judged eligible for treatment and 628 (13%) were ultimately prescribed an antiviral agent. The overall rate of admission within 14 days was 1%. Patients who were admitted were significantly older than those who did not require hospitalisation. Of patients prescribed molnupiravir and sotrovimab 1.8% and 3.2% were admitted respectively. Conclusion There were a high volume of referrals to CMDU service during the the initial surge of the Omicron wave in the UK. A minority of patients were judged to be eligible for therapy. In a highly vaccinated population, the overall hospitalisation rate was low.

KW - Infectious Diseases

KW - Oncology

U2 - 10.1093/ofid/ofac527

DO - 10.1093/ofid/ofac527

M3 - Article

SN - 2328-8957

JO - Open Forum Infectious Diseases

JF - Open Forum Infectious Diseases

ER -