COVID-19 risk in patients with substance use disorders at Kuwait addiction treatment center

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is creating major issues for healthcare and broad social structures, exposing societal vulnerabilities. Patients with substance use disorder are considered at increased risk of COVID-19 and its more serious complications, however data on the impact of COVID-19 are lacking. The study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 on patients with substance use disorders seen at Kuwait addiction treatment center. Method: A cross sectional study was carried including all patients seen in outpatient department and/or admitted in the inpatient wards of Kuwait Addiction Treatment Center, diagnosed as substance use disorder with history of COVID-19 infection during the period from June 2021 to December 2021. Results : Among 660 substance use disorder patients, the mean age was 36± 10.1 years (94%) were men and (91.1%) were Kuwaiti. The main substance used were Opioid in (41.1%) of patients, stimulant in (25.5%) and synthetics in (11.2%) of patients. One or more comorbidities associated to COVID-19 risk were observed in (29 %) of patients. (9.1%) of patients got COVID-19 infection and 61.5% were vaccinated.