Alcohol Withdrawal Rates in Hospitalized Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The association of the COVID-19 pandemic with AUD and AW has been much debated. 5 This cohort study found an overall increase in AW rates in 2020, with a peak at the end of the stay-at-home order. Moreover, increased AW rates continued during the reopening phases. It is not clear why IRRs were higher in 2020 before the stay-at-home orders. Although the use of the revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol to identify AW limits the false-positive rate, it may underestimate the true AW rate and may be a limitation of the study. These findings suggest negative associations of the pandemic with AW. Stress, anxiety, disrupted treatment plans, and increased alcohol use might be factors associated with higher rates of AW, because higher rates persisted during the reopening phases. With the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, many states might revert to stay-at-home orders and this trend may worsen. Increased vigilance to identify AW among hospitalized patients and to use systematic screening will be pivotal in the management of AW.

Trends in Liver Transplantation for Acute Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US

“…This marked change is likely associated with recent patterns in high-risk alcohol use. 1 , 2 Additional contributions may have included transplant centers’ increasing acceptance of pursuing liver transplantation for acute alcohol-associated hepatitis 3 and a revision of the liver transplantation allocation system in February 2020, 5 as well as possibly concurrent lifestyle changes and COVID-19 infection itself. Nevertheless, these recent recipients of liver transplant will require intensive longitudinal multidisciplinary care to reduce their risk of alcohol relapse and ensure successful outcomes.…”

Covid-19 and alcohol associated liver disease

“… Sharma et al. (2021) [10] Alcohol-related hospitalizations Retrospective Cohort Hospitalizations for alcohol withdrawal at a tertiary hospital in Delaware ( N = 847) 34% increase in hospitalizations for alcohol withdrawal at the end of stay-at-home orders in 2020 compared to 2019. White et al.…”

Prevention of alcohol withdrawal seizure recurrence and treatment of other alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the emergency department: a rapid review

“…Alcohol withdrawal in the ED has been associated with increased use of critical care resources [9], and frequent ED visits for alcoholrelated presentations have been associated with high relative mortality rates [1,10]. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated significant increases in the proportion of alcohol withdrawal-related ED visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the rapidly growing burden of alcohol use on EDs across the world [11][12][13][14].…”