Prevalence of clinical and radiologic features in methanol‐poisoned patients with and without COVID‐19 infection

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the prevalence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in methanol-poisoned patients admitted to two toxicology academic centers during the COVID-19 outbreak and determine their clinical features and chest/brain computed tomography (CT) findings.Methods: Methanol-poisoned patients who had been referred during the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 by chest CT scans and/or polymerase chain reaction test.Results: A total of 62 patients with confirmed methanol poisoning were enrolled in the study, with a median (interquartile range) age of 35 (28-44) years. Thirty-nine (62.9%) survived. Nine (14.5%) were diagnosed to have COVID-19, of whom four survived. There was a significant correlation between COVID-19 disease and a history of alcohol consumption (p = 0.036; odds ratio 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-2.2). Univariate analysis showed significant differences between infected and noninfected patients regarding their urea and time for first and second hemodialysis sessions, as well as the duration of ethanol administration. Conclusions:In conclusion, during the pandemic, specific attention should be paid to patients with a history of alcohol ingestion and elevated creatinine, loss of consciousness, and severe acidosis as these signs/symptoms could be present in both COVID-19 and methanol poisoning, making differentiation between the two challenging.

An interrupted time series analysis of hospital admissions due to alcohol intoxication during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Tehran, Iran

“…Additionally, patients with COVID-19 infection and their families as well as the health care workers experience stigmatizations resulting in stressful stimuli 40 . There are reports of concomitant COVID-19 infection and methanol poisoning 41 . Loss of friends and relatives and complicated grief are of the other factors altering alcohol consumption behavior 42 .…”

Methanol Poisoning and Its Clinical Complications During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran: A Systematic Review

“…Of these, two focused on alcohol consumption and the remaining eight specifically examined methanol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these, three were multicenter studies (15,20,21), while the others were conducted at single centers. Geographic distribution of the studies included three conducted in Tehran (2,3,22), two in Shiraz (23,24), and two in Yazd (25).…”

“…In Dehghan et al's study, 59.4% of the participants had a complicationfree recovery, and 12.9% showed improvement in vision problems (25). Seven studies focused on methanol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic (2,3,15,(20)(21)(22)(23). Methanol levels above 6.24 mmol/L (20.4 mg/dL) were identified as the threshold for toxicity in five of these studies (3,15,(20)(21)(22).…”

“…Seven studies focused on methanol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic (2,3,15,(20)(21)(22)(23). Methanol levels above 6.24 mmol/L (20.4 mg/dL) were identified as the threshold for toxicity in five of these studies (3,15,(20)(21)(22). One study also noted ethanol levels higher than 50 mg/dL (22).…”

“…Zamani et al conducted a study that included 62 patients with confirmed methanol poisoning. The majority of these patients had consumed alcoholic beverages, and a small percentage had used alcoholic sanitizers (20). Of these, 26 patients (41.9%) reported using alcohol for recreational purposes.…”