Alcoholics can test -ve late on RT-PCR: Study

Chandigarh, February 13

A group of PGI researchers has found that patients who were using substance such as tobacco or alcohol took a long time to test negative on RT-PCR compared to those who were not taking any substance.

The study, titled “Relationship of substance dependence and time to RT-PCR negative status in patients with Covid-19 infection”, was published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry. The study was carried out by Dr Aseem Mehra, Dr Vikas Suri, Dr Pankaj Malhotra, Dr Lakshmi Narayana, Dr Sawapnajeet Sahoo, Dr GD Puri, Dr Ashish Bhalla and Dr Sandeep Grover.

During the study period, 98 patients were admitted, of whom details of substance abuse were available for 95 patients. About one-fourth (25) patients were consuming substances in a dependent pattern, of whom seven were taking more than one substance and 18 were using only one substance

In the present study, outcomes were evaluated in the form of time taken for the RT-PCR negative status in addition to patient being symptom-free during the Covid-19 infection. When those with any substance dependence and those without substance dependence were compared, it was seen that a significantly lower proportion of the patients with substance dependence tested negative on RT-PCR on 14th day, 18th day and 23rd day. Among the substance users, a significantly higher proportion of them were male. On 14th day, i.e. after two weeks of the baseline assessment, about one-third (35.8%) of patients were found to be negative on RT-PCR. This percentage increased to 46.3% and 49.5% by 18th day and 23th day, respectively.

According to the WHO, consuming alcohol and smoking are associated with a more complicated and dangerous progression of Covid-19.

The present study suggests that mental health professionals involved in the care of patients infected with Covid-19 should accordingly prepare these patients for a possible longer hospital stay, as last-minute disclosure of prolongation of the hospital stay can lead to significant distress in patients who are staying in isolation with an expectation of discharge in two-week time. — TNS