Background To date, no study has evaluated the association of alcohol dependence with the outcome of the COVID-19 infection. Aim The current study aimed to evaluate the association of substance… Click to show full abstract
Background To date, no study has evaluated the association of alcohol dependence with the outcome of the COVID-19 infection. Aim The current study aimed to evaluate the association of substance dependence (alcohol and tobacco) with the outcome (i.e., time to have two consecutive negative test reports) of the COVID-19 infection. Results The mean age of the study participants (nā=ā95) was 37.2 yrs (SD-13.2). More than half of the participants were males. About one-fourth (Nā=ā25; 26.3%) were consuming various substances in a dependent pattern. Alcohol dependence was present in 21 participants (22.1%), and Tobacco dependence was present in 10.5% of participants. Even after using gender, age, and physical illness as covariates, patients with any kind of substance dependence had a significantly lower chance of having a negative report on RT-PCR on 14th day, 18th 23rd day. Conclusion Substance dependence takes a longer time to test negative on RT-PCR, once diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. Mental health professionals involved in the care of patients with COVID-19 should accordingly prepare these patients for a possible longer hospital stay to reduce the distress associated with prolongation of hospital stay.
               
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