Table 2 Characteristics of the study groups
Study confounders | Study groups | P-values | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 (FTSPR ratio > 1) | Group 2 (FTSPR ratio = 1) | Group 3 (FTSPR ratio < 1) | ||
N = 348 (%) | N = 343 (%) | N = 209 (%) | ||
Type of drug registration | ||||
Brand-name small molecules | 181 (52) | 149 (43) | 91 (44) | < 0.01 |
Biologics | 19 (5.5) | 5 (1) | 4 (2) | |
International generics | 122 (35) | 136 (40) | 86 (41) | |
Local generics | 26 (7.5) | 53 (16) | 28 (13) | |
Route of administration | ||||
Oral preparations | 145 (41.5) | 160 (47) | 114 (55) | < 0.01 |
Injections | 141 (40.5) | 149 (43) | 69 (33) | |
Other preparations (eye drops, creams, lotions, suppositories, etc.) | 62 (18) | 34 (10) | 26 (12) | |
Country of the manufacturer | ||||
International | 278 (80) | 251 (73) | 151 (72.3) | < 0.01 |
Local | 31 (9) | 67 (20) | 32 (15.3) | |
Regional | 39 (11) | 25 (7) | 26 (12.4) | |
Cause of shortage | ||||
Marketing challenges | 98 (28) | 60 (17) | 51 (24.4) | |
Voluntary discontinuation | 120 (34) | 212 (62) | 94 (45) | < 0.01 |
Manufacturing difficulties | 100 (29) | 52 (15) | 51 (24.4) | |
Regulatory actions | 30 (9) | 19 (6) | 13 (6.2) | |
Reporting relevant to COVID19 | ||||
Before COVID19 | 212 (61) | 252 (73) | 136 (65) | < 0.01 |
After COVID19 | 136 (39) | 91 (27) | 73 (35) | |