SARS-CoV-2 continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality in the United States. Among adults, the number of hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 remained consistently higher than that for influenza during the 2023-2024 respiratory season. Hospitalization rates were highest among adults 65 years or older and increased with increasing age.
COVID-19 therapeutics can shift the course of illness. Using 2021-2022 data, modeling showed that an increase in uptake of treatment to 80% would reduce hospitalizations by 42% and deaths by 51%. A 2024 survey of 2858 adults at high risk of severe disease found that only 16.5% had ever received COVID-19 treatment and only 23.3% would choose to take an antiviral if prescribed. Despite the demonstrated efficacy of outpatient treatment at preventing severe outcomes among persons at high risk, most older adults have not received treatment. A recent survey suggested that clinicians are reluctant to prescribe treatment due to concerns about drug-drug interactions and adverse effects. Furthermore, inequities in access to vaccines and other health care may also limit use of these antivirals. The clinical and public health community needs to strongly consider and promote COVID-19 treatments to improve patient outcomes and minimize severe COVID-19. Public health officials and health care professionals need to better educate patients and their families about the benefits of treatment relative to the risk of severe COVID-19.