The Effect of Covid-19 on Alcohol Use Disorder and the Role of Universal Alcohol Screening in an Inpatient Setting: A Retrospective Cohort Control Study

Subhani, Mohsan; Sheth, Abhishek; Unitt, Stuart; Aithal, Guruprasad P.; Ryder, Stephen D.; Morling, Joanne R.

Abstract

Aim: To assess the impact of Covid-19 on alcohol use disorders (AUD) and the role of universal alcohol screening (UAS) in an inpatient setting. Methods: Retrospective cohorts were defined as pre-pandemic and pandemic admitted to Nottingham University Hospitals (April to October; 2019 and 2020) and had alcohol assessment by AUDIT-C. AUDIT-C score was assessed against age, sex, ethnicity, admission type, speciality and primary diagnosis of mental disorders. Subgroup analysis for Covid-19 positive patients was performed. Results: A total of 63,927 admissions (47,954 patients) were included. The pandemic period compared to pre-pandemic had fewer overall admissions (27,349 vs 36,578, P < 0.001), fewer with AUD (17.6% vs 18.4%, P = 0.008) but a higher proportion of alcohol dependents (3.7% vs 3.0%, P < 0.0001). In the pandemic those with AUD were more likely to be male (P = 0.003), white (P < 0.001), in relationship (P < 0.001), of higher socioeconomic background (P < 0.001), have alcohol-related mental disorders (P = 0.002), emergency admission (P < 0.001), medical speciality admission (P < 0.001) and shorter length of stay (P < 0.033) compared to pre-pandemic AUD. Covid-19 positive patients with concomitant AUD died at younger age (P < 0.05) than Covid-19 positive patients at low risk for AUD. Conclusions: The pandemic changed the characteristics of inpatients with AUD. There was a higher proportion of alcohol-dependent admissions with evidence that a younger, less deprived group have been significantly impacted. UAS provides a useful tool to screen for AUD and to identify the change when facing sudden health crises.

Citation

Subhani, M., Sheth, A., Unitt, S., Aithal, G. P., Ryder, S. D., & Morling, J. R. (2022). The Effect of Covid-19 on Alcohol Use Disorder and the Role of Universal Alcohol Screening in an Inpatient Setting: A Retrospective Cohort Control Study. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 57(2), 203-210. https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agab059

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 29, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Aug 21, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Deposit Date: Aug 3, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 21, 2021
• Journal: Alcohol and Alcoholism
• Print ISSN: 0735-0414
• Electronic ISSN: 1464-3502
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 57
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 203-210
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agab059
• Keywords: Alcoholism; Alcohol use disorder; Covid-19; Pandemic; Retrospective
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5952862
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/advance-article/doi/10.1093/alcalc/agab059/6353178