Study of the correlation between addiction to inhaling opium and earlypresentations of COVID-۱۹ infection in heavy smoker patients: aretrospective longitudinal study

Addiction to inhaling opium affects a considerable number of people in the middle east and Iran aswell. Some traditional beliefs support the Idea that opium usage induces resistance to COVID-۱۹infection and diminishes disease progression. Theoretically, opium reduces cellular immunity anddeclines interferon release so it shuts the most remarkable antiviral arm of the immune systemdown. Opium blocks pain pathways by shutting down the neurotransmitter release in the spinalcord and activating inhibitory control in the midbrain. And codeine as an opioid can alleviatecough in upper respiratory infections. In this retrospective longitudinal study, two cohorts ofsmoker COVID۱۹ PCR-positive hospitalized patients during ۲۰۲۰ were compared. Group Oincluded ۳۸ inhaler opium addict patients and Group C consisted of ۱۰۳ patients who haven't usedany type of opium. Primary symptoms, duration between onset of symptoms and hospitalizationand admission vital signs were assessed in These groups. The final result showed a significantdecrease in cough, bone pain prevalence and duration between the onset of symptoms andhospitalization in opium addict patients. (۲۹.۷%vs۵۴.۴%) (۸.۱% vs ۲۹.۱%)(۵.۱۶ days vs ۷.۶۸days) (p-value<۰.۰۵) Suppressive effect of opium on cough reflex and pain pathways make thesefindings reasonable which leads to significant clinical effect. This study demonstrated that coughand bone pain as the primary symptoms of COVID ۱۹ developed later in opium addict patients sosilent hypoxemia would mask the presentations of pathology progression. Therefore, those patientscould spread the infection more in the subclinical state meet the doctor and hospitalize when thedisease is more severe and their treatment could get delayed and so on.

کلیدواژه ها:

Inhaling Opium ، COVID-۱۹ ، Addiction