Alcohol Use Disorder Admissions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From a Tertiary Community Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: The first case of Coronavirus disease-19 in the United States was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in January 2020. The presence of COVID-19 and the subsequent spread of this disease led to stress, anxiety, grief, and worry. We aimed to study the rate of hospital admission for alcohol use disorder (AUD) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary community hospital in Michigan.Methods: Two subsets of hospital data were collected for comparison between hospitalized patients before and during the pandemic in a tertiary community hospital. Logistic regression was used to identify the odds ratio of AUD admission rates among all patients in 2020 compared with 2019 while controlling for covariates.Results: Our data showed a statistically significant increase in AUD patients in 2020 compared to 2019 (3.26% versus 2.50%, adjusted OR=1.44 with P=0.002). In addition, females had significantly lower chances of admission for AUD compared with males (OR=0.22 with P<0.001) and African Americans had significantly lower chances of admission for AUD compared to Whites (OR=0.44 with P <0.001). Divorced patients had a higher probability of admission for AUD compared to married patients (OR=2.62 with P<0.001).Conclusion: Our study found a significantly higher rate of AUD admissions in 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic compared to 2019. Gender, race, age, and marital status are significant risk factors related to AUD admissions.

The effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic blood shortage on trauma patients

“…However, the stressors associated with isolation with or without family, reduction of normal activities, and socioeconomic strain 5,6 eventuated in more persistent problems. After an initial decrease during the first weeks of lockdown when alcohol was difficult to access, traumatic and nontraumatic alcohol related hospital presentations increased depending on availability 4,5,7–9 . There were significantly more home‐related injuries such as pediatric injuries from neglect 10 or abuse 11,12 and intimate partner violence 12,13 .…”

“…After an initial decrease during the first weeks of lockdown when alcohol was difficult to access, traumatic and nontraumatic alcohol related hospital presentations increased depending on availability. 4,5,[7][8][9] There were significantly more home-related injuries such as pediatric injuries from neglect 10 or abuse 11,12 and intimate partner violence. 12,13 The rate of penetrating injury in many US and international trauma centers saw unprecedented increases 1-4,14-18 with a concurrent increase in firearm purchases in the United States.…”

Chronic alcohol consumption and COVID‐19 infection risk: A narrative review

“…When considering the death rate of AUD patients before and during the pandemic, the mortality increased by around 20% for both men and women with strongest effects in patients between 25 and 44 years of age (White et al, 2022; Yeo et al, 2022). In addition, numerous studies have reported a reinforced drinking behavior of AUD patients and increased alcohol‐related organ damage in AUD individuals during the pandemic (Hutchison et al, 2022; Kothadia et al, 2022; Marano et al, 2022; Schecke et al, 2022; Tikaria et al, 2022).…”

The Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin in Alcohol Use Disorder Recovery: A Literature Review

“…The United States witnessed an increase in AUD hospitalizations and drinking days per month, which researchers attributed to the COVID-19 global pandemic [7]. Several theories for the recent increased incidence of AUD are explained through the conditions created by the pandemic such as extended periods of physical and social isolation and corollary increased rates of internalizing disorders.…”