Methods Projects

Recently studies have identified multiple abnormalities of coagulation in many COVID-19 patients. The factors associated with the development of thrombosis in patients with COVID-19 have not been fully evaluated and so the understanding of the determinants of thrombotic events in COVID-19 is important to reducing their risk.

The National Institute of Health’s COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines state that dexamethasone should not be used in outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19, or in hospitalized patients who do not require supplemental oxygen. This study will describe the patterns of corticosteroid use in outpatients with COVID-19 from several Canadian provinces and evaluate the effects of this use on important adverse outcomes.

SGLT2 inhibitor use was not associated with an increased risk of severe UTI compared to use of DPP-4 inhibitors among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Apixaban is associated with lower risks of ischemic stroke and major bleeding, compared with rivaroxaban, and similar risks of these outcomes when compared with dabigatran. Rivaroxaban is associated with an increased risk of major bleeding and a similar risk of ischemic stroke, when compared with dabigatran.

The incidence of cardiac death and ventricular tachyarrhythmia is very low in postpartum women. Although this potential increased risk is low and could not be confirmed in this large study, it should be discussed when considering treatment options for individual patients.

Understanding the quality of diagnostic coding of COVID-19, particularly in outpatient settings is important for drug regulatory agencies that are actively studying drug use among patients with COVID-19. This study will provide evidence of the validity of COVID-19 diagnoses recorded in hospital discharge abstracts, emergency department records, and outpatient physician service claims.