Correlates of COVID-19 pandemic-related increases in sleep aid and anti-anxiety medication use

ABSTRACT

Objective

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a stressful environment of fear, isolation, and economic instability. This study quantifies rates of self-reported increases in use of anxiety-related medications and sleep aids, and identifies demographic, health and psychosocial correlates during the initial stay-at-home period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

An online survey was administered to U.S. adults (n = 2,739), aged 18 and older, from April 14 to April 22, 2020 to assess self-reported change in anti-anxiety and sleep aid use during the stay-at-home protocols. Data were weighted to the US population for analysis.

Results

Weighted results indicate anti-anxiety and sleep aid medications increased for 35.7% and 41.2% of the population, respectively. Major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and somatization disorder (SD) symptoms were associated with increased use of anti-anxiety medications. GAD and SD were associated with increased use of sleep aids. Perceived stress, quality of life, fatigue and concentration were associated with increased use of anti-anxiety medication and sleep aids.

Conclusions

These findings provide critical insights necessary in preparing for future outbreaks of similar magnitude. Developing policies to support economic and healthcare infrastructure is a necessary first step to ameliorating secondary health consequences from an infectious disease outbreak.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• prescription Drug Use
• sleep Aid
• anxiety
• stress

Availability of data and material

Data requests may be sent to Dr. Krista Howard at [email protected]

Code availability

Custom code – SPSS (v23) used for analyses

Consent to participate

All participants provided consent prior to completing study procedures

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Ethics approval

IRB determined research to meet human subjects research regulations

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.