A new study by researchers from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston suggests that people with
substance use disorders may be
particularly vulnerable to the adverse respiratory
effects of COVID-19, especially those using drugs that impair the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The
findings are currently available in Psychiatric Services.
As COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, health care systems are
working to identify patients at high risk of becoming infected with and
suffering from complications of the disease. People with substance use disorder are likely to be at a higher
risk of contracting COVID-19 because of their higher rates of homelessness, overcrowded living conditions,
incarceration and poor access to health care. Also, given the virus’s impact on the respiratory,
cardiovascular and immune systems – which can be impaired by opioids, benzodiazapines, methamphetamines,
alcohol, tobacco and other substances of abuse – people with substance use disorders are more prone to
becoming infected, becoming more seriously ill and experiencing COVID-19 complications including acute
respiratory distress syndrome, kidney failure and death.
The research team examined the impact of substance
use disorders on the risks of hospitalization, complications and death in 54,529 adult patients diagnosed with
COVID-19 between February 20, 2020 and June 30,2020. The data were obtained from the TriNetX Research Network
platform, a global federated network of electronic medical record data from 35 health care prganizations
designed to facilitate research related to COVID-19.
The data analysis revealed that after matching on
demographic characteristics, diabetes and obesity, substance use disorder was associated with increased
hospitalization,ventilator use and
mortality. The observed risks may be driven, at least in part, by drug-related respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases.
“Understanding the impact of substance use
disorders on COVID-19 is important to experts as they develop approaches to this epidemic,” said senior
author Jacques Baillargeon, a UTMB professor in the department of preventive medicine and population health.
“Continued research on this important topic will inform health care providers, health system leaders and
policy makers on delivery of care for the growing number of Americans living with substance use disorders who
are at high risk for COVID-19 and other infections.”