Study of the correlation between addiction to inhaling opium and the severityof COVID-۱۹ infection in heavy smoker patients: a retrospective longitudinalstudy

Inhaling opium addiction is a common substance dependency in Iran and the middle east. Nativethoughts support the Idea that opium usage reduces COVID-۱۹ infection prevalence and improvesprognosis in infected ones. Opium restricts cellular immunity function and interferon release as aresult, virus reproduction is not well controlled in opium-addicted patients. On the other hand,opium reduces the overproduction of interleukin-۱ and ۶ as the most important inflammationmodulator in the cytokine storm. Cytokine storm is in charge of the fatal inflammatory phase ofCOVID-۱۹ infection as well as multi-organ damage. This dual effect of opium on COVID-۱۹'sinfection progress gave rise to performing this study and evaluating COVID-۱۹ severity andmortality in opium-addicted patients. This retrospective longitudinal study compares two cohortsof smoker COVID۱۹ PCR-positive hospitalized patients during ۲۰۲۰. Group O included ۳۸ inhaleropium addict patients and Group C included ۹۹ patients from the normal population who haven'tused any type of opium. Laboratory findings, discharge vital signs, organ failures, mechanicalventilation requirements, Intensive Care Unit admission, length of hospitalization and dead ratiowere assessed in These groups. There was no difference between the two groups in terms ofprognosis but The final result showed a considerable elevation in white blood cell count and areduction in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in opium addict patients. (۱۰.۸۷ Vs ۸.۲۳) (۵.۵۱ Vs۳.۸۱)(p-value<۰.۰۵)The dual effect of opium on the immunity system and inflammation progressneutralizes each other. Unless the traditional beliefs, severity and mortality were the same in bothgroups and there wasn't any evidence which favors the positive effect of opium usage on COVID-۱۹'s course of infection. Although some of the traditional beliefs are evidence base originated but,in this case, delaying the treatment based on a hypothesis can be fatal.

کلیدواژه ها:

Inhaling Opium ، COVID-۱۹ ، Addiction.