The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Consumption of Antidiabetic Drugs in Serbia: A Joinpoint Trend Analysis

Background: People with diabetes more often experienced severe clinical forms of COVID-19. However, it has been hypothesized that certain antidiabetic drugs may be associated with better outcomes in COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the change in consumption of antidiabetic drugs in Serbia. Methods: This descriptive analysis was carried out using publicly accessible data obtained from the official website of the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of Serbia during the period 2006-2022. The joinpoint regression analysis was applied to investigate the dynamics of antidiabetic drugs utilization over time. Results: In the Republic of Serbia, this study analyzed the use of 28 antidiabetic drugs between 2006 and 2022.The results showed that at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in consumption of dulaglutide (starting from 2020) and a decrease in consumption of insulin detemir (starting from 2019), insulin lispro (combined) and insulin lispro (fast-acting) (starting from 2020). Conclusion: Our study revealed significant changes in the usage of certain antidiabetic drugs, such as increased consumption of dulaglutide and decreased use of various insulin types. These changes reflect the evolving strategies in diabetes treatment to better support patients during this global health crisis. Key words: antidiabetic drugs, impact of Covid-19, consumption, Serbia