Biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are very effective in treating
rheumatic diseases with a good patient tolerance. However, high cost and individualistic approach requires dedication of the physician. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine how the
COVID-19 pandemic has affected the prescription of
biologic DMARDs in rheumatology at the University Hospital of Split. The data collection was conducted through an archive search in the Outpatient Clinic for Rheumatology in the University Hospital of Split, Split, Croatia. The search included the period before and after the start of the
COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia (31 March 2020). Collected data included age, sex, ICD-10 code of diagnosis, generic and brand name of the prescribed
drug, date of
therapy initiation, and medication administration route. In the pre-COVID-19 period, 209 patients were processed, while in the
COVID-19 period, 185 patients were processed (11.5% fewer). During pre-COVID-19, 231
biologic medications were prescribed, while during
COVID-19, 204. During
COVID-19,
IL-6 inhibitors were less prescribed (48 (21%) vs. 21 (10%) prescriptions, p = 0.003), while
IL-17A inhibitors were more prescribed (39 (17%) vs. 61 (30%) prescriptions, p = 0.001). In
ankylosing spondylitis (AS),
adalimumab was prescribed more during pre-COVID-19 (25 vs. 15 patients, p = 0.010), while
ixekizumab was prescribed less (1 vs. 10 patients, p = 0.009). In
rheumatoid arthritis,
tocilizumab was prescribed more in the pre-COVID-19 period (34 vs. 10 patients, p = 0.012). Overall, the prescription trends of
biologic DMARDs for rheumatologic diseases did not vary significantly in the University Hospital of Split, Croatia.
Tocilizumab was prescribed less during
COVID-19 due to shortages, while
ixekizumab was more prescribed during
COVID-19 due to an increase in
psoriatic arthritis patients processed and due to being approved for treating AS.