No effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prescription of insulin in Germany

AIMS: The aim of the study was to investigate the change of insulin doses in Germany between 2017 and 2021. METHODS: This retrospective study used data from the longitudinal prescription LRx database (IQVIA) and included all patients with at least two insulin prescriptions per year in 2017–2021. Calculated daily dose (CDD) was assessed in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, separately. RESULTS: The number of patients was comprised between 1,079,894 in 2021 and 1,132,839 in 2018. Median (interquartile range) CDD of basal insulin was relatively stable across the years and ranged between 27.9 (18.5–38.8) in 2021 and 28.3 (18.7–39.5) in 2020. In terms of short-acting insulin, median (interquartile range) CDD slightly decreased from 40.1 (28.2–54.3) in 2017 to 38.1 (27.2–52.2) in 2021. A slight decrease was also observed for mix insulin, from 39.4 (27.5–55.3) in 2017 to 37.9 (26.5–54.2) in 2021. These results were corroborated in most age and sex subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 had no substantial effects on insulin doses in Germany. Further data are warranted to corroborate or refute these findings in other settings and countries.