Psychosis and substance abuse increase the COVID-19 mortality risk

Abstract

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a global challenge. High mortality rates have been reported in some risk groups, including patients with pre-existing mental disorders. Methods We used electronic health records to retrospectively identify people infected due to COVID-19 (between March 2020 and March 2021) in the three territories of the Basque Country. COVID-19 cases were defined as individuals who had tested positive on a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models and multilevel analyses with generalized estimated equations were used to determine factors associated with COVID-19-related mortality and hospital admission. Results The COVID-19 mortality rate was increased for patients with psychotic disorders [odds ratio (OR) adjusted: 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.09–1.94), p = 0.0114] and patients with substance abuse [OR adjusted: 1.88, 95% CI (1.13–3.14, p < 0.0152)]. The mortality rate was lower for patients with affective disorders [OR adjusted: 0.80, 95% CI (0.61–0.99), p = 0.0407]. Hospital admission rates due to COVID-19 were higher in psychosis [OR adjusted: 2.90, 95% CI (2.36–3.56), p < 0.0001] and anxiety disorder groups [OR adjusted: 1.54, 95% CI (1.37–1.72), p < 0.0001]. Among admitted patients, COVID-19 mortality rate was decreased for those with affective disorders rate [OR adjusted: 0.72, 95% CI (0.55–0.95), p = 0.0194]. Conclusions COVID-19-related mortality and hospitalizations rates were higher for patients with a pre-existing psychotic disorder.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and humoral immune responses to mRNA vaccines among people who use drugs - In the light of tailored mitigating strategies

“…These studies together with ours, point in another direction than the many studies nding a higher prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, more severe morbidity and greater mortality related to the disease among PWUD (12)(13)(14)(15). Strathdee and colleagues found a prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among PWUD in the San Diego-Tijuana border to be higher than estimates from the general population in either city (32,33).…”

Is there an association between depression, anxiety disorders and COVID-19 severity and mortality? A multicenter retrospective cohort study conducted in 50 hospitals in Germany

“…Regarding anxiety disorders and COVID-19 death, our findings are in line with published sources ( Poblador-Plou et al, 2020 ; Catalan et al, 2022 ). However, the strong association between anxiety disorders and mechanical ventilation in our study is a novel finding.…”

“…In this study, COVID-19 patients with comorbid anxiety disorders were found to have a 2.4 times greater risk of mortality than those without anxiety disorders ( Teixeira et al, 2020 ). In a recent study, Catalan et al analyzed data on 157,246 people from the Basque Country (Spain) and observed that anxiety disorders [OR: 1.54] were associated with an increased risk of hospital admission, but were not associated with a higher mortality risk among admitted patients ( Catalan et al, 2022 ).…”

Lessons from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in schizophrenia: a review

“…Since the publication of our meta-analysis, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its list of conditions associated with severe COVID-19, including schizophrenia. The increased COVID-19 mortality in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders was confirmed in other countries [17–19] and synthetized in a meta-analysis published in 2022 confirming that schizophrenia was a risk factor for both contracting COVID-19 infection and developing a severe/lethal form of the infection [20 ▪▪ ]. In this meta-analysis, 263 207 patients from 10 studies were included and the relative risk ratio of increased mortality was 2.2 (1.54–3.20).…”