Medication complexity and COVID-19 pandemic impact on the cost burden in non-COVID elderly patients at the emergency department

Background: The global increase in the elderly population and the incidence of emergency conditions due to physiological changes pose cost challenges for emergency services. COVID-19 potentially affects the financial burden of medication in elderly patients. Objective: To analyse the impact of medication complexity on the cost burden in elderly patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A retrospective observational study was conducted among elderly patients (aged > 60 years) who visited ED but were not hospitalised between January to April 2020. The medication complexity was measured using the Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) while the cost was collected from the hospital information system. Result: A total of 321 ED visits were included in this study. The results showed that the mean of the total medication was 3.89 ± 1.70, while the mean score of the MRCI was 15.20 ± 6.54. The mean medication cost required was IDR 56,342 for each ED visit. Conclusion: This study provided an overview and input to control medication costs for elderly patients in the emergency setting. Interested parties can design policies that are beneficial in economics and therapeutic outcomes.