Abstract
Background
Uptake of HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been increasing in the United States since its FDA approval in 2012; however, the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected this trend. Our objective was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PrEP prescriptions in the United States.
Methods
We analyzed data from a national pharmacy database from January 2017 through March 2021 to fit an interrupted time-series model that predicted PrEP prescriptions and new PrEP users had the pandemic not occurred. Observed PrEP prescriptions and new users were compared with those predicted by the model. Main outcomes were weekly numbers of PrEP prescriptions and new PrEP users based on a previously developed algorithm. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was quantified by computing rate ratios and percent decreases between the observed and predicted counts during 3/15/2020 – 3/31/2021.
Results
In the absence of the pandemic, our model predicted that there would have been 1,058,162 PrEP prescriptions during 3/15/2020 – 3/31/2021. We observed 825,239 PrEP prescriptions, a 22.0% reduction (95% CI: 19.1%-24.8%) after the emergency declaration. The model predicted 167,720 new PrEP users during the same period; we observed 125,793 new PrEP users, a 25.0% reduction (95% CI: 20.9%-28.9%). The COVID-19 impact was greater among younger persons and those with commercial insurance. The impact of the pandemic varied markedly across states.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted an increasing trend in PrEP prescriptions in the United States, highlighting the need for innovative interventions to maintain access to HIV prevention services during similar emergencies.
Keywords: PrEP, preexposure prophylaxis, COVID-19