Abstinence Among Alcohol Use Disorder Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights From Spain

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Pablo Barrio - , Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Author)
  • Nuria Baldaquí - , Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Author)
  • Magalí Andreu - , Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Author)
  • Carolin Kilian - , Chair of Behavioral Epidemiology, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Jürgen Rehm - , Chair of Behavioral Epidemiology, TUD Dresden University of Technology, University of Toronto, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Antoni Gual - , Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Author)
  • Jakob Manthey - , Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, TUD Dresden University of Technology, University of Hamburg, Leipzig University (Author)

Abstract

Background: Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are likely to suffer disproportionate harms related to the COVID-19 pandemic and related policy measures. While many surveys have been conducted, most are focused on drinking changes in the general population and validation with biological markers is lacking. Method: We performed a retrospective cohort study among patients with AUD attending a urine drug screening program. With mixed-effects logistic regression models, we assessed the probability of screening positive for ethyl glucuronide according to patients’ main clinical characteristics and time of analysis (either prior to or after a lockdown was implemented in Spain). Results: A total of 362 patients provided 2,040 urine samples (1,295 prior to lockdown, 745 during lockdown). The mean age of participants was 52.0 years (SD 12.6), and 69.2% were men. Of the 43% of patients tested for other drugs 22% screened positive. After adjusting for all covariates, the odds of screening positive for ethyl glucuronide during lockdown almost doubled (OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.33, p = 0.008). Other significant covariates included testing positive for other drugs (OR = 10.79, 95% CI 4.60 to 26.97) and length of treatment (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.74). Conclusions: Our data support an association between the lockdown due to COVID-19 and increased alcohol use in patients with AUD. Thus, addiction healthcare systems could face significant challenges ahead. In light of these findings, it is essential to evaluate prospectively how patients with AUD are affected by the pandemic and how health systems respond to their needs.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)802-807
Number of pages6
JournalAlcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
Volume45
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 33667019

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Abstinence, Alcohol, Alcohol Use Disorder, COVID-19, Relapse