COVID-19-Related Death in Patients with Alcohol or Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

Background: People with substance or alcohol use disorders (SUDs/AUDs) are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection than the general population, but the evidence of COVID-19-related mortality in these patients is unclear.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to verify whether patients with AUD and SUD have a higher mortality rate for COVID-19-related mortality compared to the general population.

Method: We performed a follow-up study to assess mortality in 2020 in a cohort of patients diagnosed for the first time with AUDs or SUDs at the Public Health Services in the metropolitan area of Bologna (Northern Italy) from 2009 to 2019.

Results: SUDs/AUDs patients present an excess mortality with respect to the general population for all causes of death and for COVID-19-related mortality.

Conclusions: Our data support the need for prevention strategies in SUDs/AUDs patients such as vaccinations.

Keywords: Alcohol use disorder; COVID-19; Cohort study; Mortality; Substance use disorder.