scholarly journals Alcoholism as a Risk Factor for COVID-19: Boosting Inflammatory Response

Author(s):  
Muhammad Akram ◽  
Mehwish Iqbal ◽  
Marcos Altable ◽  
Juan Moises de la Serna

Alcoholism is a condition associated with psychiatric and psychiatric problems, where the respiratory system is damaged through the mucociliary ladder mechanism and alveolar macrophage dysfunction. In the time COVID-19 has been observed a dramatic increase in alcohol consumption mediated by levels of anxiety and situations of confinement. In this work we analyze the relationship between alcoholism and SARS, especially with SARS-CoV-2, explained by a degradation of the host defenses of the respiratory epithelium by changing the barrier function, the discharge of cytokines and the functions of the cilia. All of them involved in the defense mechanism. of the lungs. This leads to a worse prognosis for patients precisely because of alcohol consumption. Based on this approach, alcoholism will exacerbate the consequences of COVID-19.

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siwen Zhang ◽  
Yujia Liu ◽  
Gang Wang ◽  
Xianchao Xiao ◽  
Xiaokun Gang ◽  
...  

Aim. The relationship between alcohol consumption and glycometabolic abnormality is controversial, especially in different ethnic population. In this study, a cross-sectional survey was carried out to examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and glycometabolic abnormality in middle-aged and elderly Chinese men. Methods. Using cluster random sampling, Chinese men aged more than 40 years from Changchun, China, were given standardized questionnaires. In total, 1996 individuals, for whom complete data was available, were recruited into the study. We calculated the incidence of prediabetes and newly diagnosed diabetes by three levels of alcohol consumption: light, moderate, and heavy. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for socioeconomic variables and diabetes-related risk factors were used to analyze the association between alcohol consumption and the onset of prediabetes and diabetes. Results. The univariate analysis revealed higher incidence of prediabetes among drinkers (32.8%) compared with nondrinkers (28.6%), particularly in heavy alcohol consumers. The logistic regression analysis showed that alcohol consumption, especially heavy consumption, was an independent risk factor for prediabetes. Conclusions. Alcohol consumption, heavy consumption in particular, is an independent risk factor for the development of prediabetes, but not for diabetes.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quan Zhang ◽  
Luyao Dong ◽  
Hongling Han

Abstract Background IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most common glomerular diseases. However, the effect of uric acid on the prognosis of IgAN is still unclear, especially between males and females. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the role of hyperuricemia in IgAN patients and the differences in gender. Consequently, the study conducted a retrospective analysis of the prognosis of IgAN in patients from the General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University. Methods: A total of 1,022 patients with primary IgAN, diagnosed through renal biopsy were enrolled from the Department of Nephrology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University. However, after applying the exclusion criteria, only 463 patients remained and were regularly followed up in the hospital. In addition, the relationship between Time Average Uric Acid (TA-UA) and prognosis of IgAN was analyzed. Results: The findings showed that TA-UA was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of IgAN in the 463 patients studied (OR=1.752,95%CI=1.348-2.277,p<0.001). Additionally, higher TA-UA values were associated with a faster progression of disease and worse prognosis (p < 0.05). Elevated TA-UA was also shown to be an independent risk factor for the progression of disease in female patients but not in their male counterparts (women: HR=1.998,95%CI=1.398-2.854,p<0.001,men: HR=1.405,95%CI=0.869-2.274, p=0.166). Conclusion: Increased TA-UA is an independent risk factor for the progression of IgAN, especially in women.


Author(s):  
Shanshan Yang ◽  
Xinhong Guo ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Yanhua Li ◽  
Yunxi Liu

Abstract Background To determine if alcohol consumption is a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and nocturnal oxygen desaturation. Methods This case–control study evaluated patients with confirmed OSA and a control group using polysomnography (PSG). Two doctors who have worked in this field for more than 5 years provided a blinded interpretation of the patients’ monitoring results. Logistic regression models were used to identify the odds ratio (OR) for alcohol consumption on OSA. Results A total of 793 patients were enrolled in this study. Compared with those who did not consume alcohol, those consuming alcohol had a higher risk of OSA (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.30–3.17) after adjustment. Regarding the risk of OSA after adjusting for former drinkers and current ones, the ORs were 1.96 (95% CI 1.19–3.22) and 2.22 (95% CI 1.06–4.63), respectively. And the P for trend = 0.002. The β of former drinkers and the current ones were 3.448 and 4.560 after adjustment; P for trend was 0.006. The relationship may have gender difference, and alcohol consumption was associated with AHI in female significantly (β = 10.190 and 15.395 for former and current drinkers, respectively, in females after adjustment, P for trend = 0.002). Conclusions In this study, we found that alcohol consumption was an independent risk factor of OSA and OSA with hypoxia, and alcohol consumption was related to AHI significantly after adjustment, especially in female. In order to reduce the risk and severity of OSA, it is suggested that people should avoid drinking, and drinkers should abstain from drinking.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jennifer Tippett

Background: The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias is perpetually increasing in Canada and worldwide with the aging baby boomer population. It is, therefore, important to identify risk factors for these major neurocognitive disorders, such as alcohol consumption, to mitigate the future burden on caregivers and the economy. The purpose of this study was to replicate previous research regarding the dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and the odds of currently having AD or another dementia. The possibility of a sex effect moderating this relationship was also explored. Participants: Data were obtained for respondents to the combined 2015/16 cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey who were aged 41 years or older at the time of the survey’s conduction (nweighted = 16,715,618). Methods: Logistic regression was used to crossectionally assess the relationship between various time- and frequency-related alcohol consumption exposures to outcome dementia status, while controlling for a number of demographic and risk factor variables. Results: A sex effect was identified for drinking at an average frequency of four to six times per week over the past year (p = 0.019, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.73) where women (ORw = 0.13) were more protected against currently having AD or dementia than men (ORm = 0.89) when compared to alcohol abstainers. Binge drinking two to three times per month (OR = 0.19, p = 0.015, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.73) and more than once per week over the past year (OR = 0.16, p = 0.007, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.61) significantly lessened the odds of currently having AD or dementia when compared against alcohol abstainers. A sex effect was present for those who were classified as very heavy drinkers (♂: 6+ drinks/day, ♀: 4+ drinks/day) over the past week (p = 0.018, 95% CI: 1.14, 39.41) where alcohol was protective against currently having AD or dementia in men (ORm = 0.29) and alcohol was a risk factor for currently having AD or dementia in women (ORw = 2.15) when both were referenced with alcohol abstainers. Conclusions: With the exception of very heavy drinker women, drinking alcohol was associated with a reduced likelihood of currently having AD or dementia and sex effects were identified for drinking at a moderate frequency over the past year and very heavy drinkers. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the possibility of selection, sparse data, and abstainer biases as well as misclassification error. The primary implication of this research is to inform future studies that a more thorough exploration of a sex effect influencing the relationship between alcohol consumption and having AD or dementia is warranted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 2081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurora J.A.E. van de Loo ◽  
Marlou Mackus ◽  
Oran Kwon ◽  
Illathu Madhavamenon Krishnakumar ◽  
Johan Garssen ◽  
...  

An increasing number of studies are focusing on the inflammatory response to alcohol as a potentially important determinant of hangover severity. In this article, data from two studies were re-evaluated to investigate the relationship between hangover severity and relevant biomarkers of alcohol metabolism, oxidative stress and the inflammatory response to alcohol. Hangover severity was significantly and positively correlated with blood concentrations of biomarkers of the inflammatory response to alcohol, in particular, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP). At 4 h after alcohol consumption, blood ethanol concentration (but not acetaldehyde) was significantly and positively associated with elevated levels of IL-6, suggesting a direct inflammatory effect of ethanol. In addition, biomarkers of oxidative stress, i.e., malondialdehyde and 8-isoprostrane, were significantly correlated with hangover severity, suggesting that oxidative stress also contributes to the inflammatory response. The timing of the assessments suggests initial slow elimination of ethanol in the first hours after alcohol consumption. As a consequence, more ethanol is present in the second half of the night and the next morning, which will elicit more oxidative stress and a more profound inflammatory response. Together, these processes result in more severe hangovers.


Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. DeCou ◽  
Monica C. Skewes

Abstract. Background: Previous research has demonstrated an association between alcohol-related problems and suicidal ideation (SI). Aims: The present study evaluated, simultaneously, alcohol consequences and symptoms of alcohol dependence as predictors of SI after adjusting for depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption. Method: A sample of 298 Alaskan undergraduates completed survey measures, including the Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire, the Short Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory – II. The association between alcohol problems and SI status was evaluated using sequential logistic regression. Results: Symptoms of alcohol dependence (OR = 1.88, p < .05), but not alcohol-related consequences (OR = 1.01, p = .95), emerged as an independent predictor of SI status above and beyond depressive symptoms (OR = 2.39, p < .001) and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.08, p = .39). Conclusion: Alcohol dependence symptoms represented a unique risk for SI relative to alcohol-related consequences and alcohol consumption. Future research should examine the causal mechanism behind the relationship between alcohol dependence and suicidality among university students. Assessing the presence of dependence symptoms may improve the accuracy of identifying students at risk of SI.


Crisis ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 398-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Nadorff ◽  
Thomas E. Ellis ◽  
Jon G. Allen ◽  
E. Samuel Winer ◽  
Steve Herrera

Background: Although sleep is an important risk factor for suicidal behavior, research has yet to examine the association between sleep problems and suicidality across the course of inpatient treatment. This study examined the relationship among sleep-related symptoms and suicidal ideation across inpatient treatment. Aims: To examine whether poor sleep at admission longitudinally predicts less improvement in suicidal ideation over the course of treatment. Further, to examine whether suicidal ideation is reduced in patients whose sleep does not improve. Method: The study utilized the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-II, which contains items measuring depressive symptoms, sleep-related symptoms, and suicidal ideation. The study sample consisted of 1,529 adult psychiatric inpatients. Patients were assessed at admission, biweekly, and at treatment termination. Results: Admission fatigue, loss of energy, and change in sleep pattern were associated with higher levels of suicidal ideation at admission and discharge. Fatigue at admission predicted suicidal ideation at termination independent of admission depression and suicidal ideation. Individuals whose sleep did not improve over the course of treatment had significantly higher suicidal ideation scores at termination relative to those whose sleep symptoms improved, after controlling for sleep, depression, and suicidal ideation scores at admission. Conclusion: These findings suggest that persistence of sleep-related symptoms warrants clinical attention in the treatment of suicidal patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-38
Author(s):  
Carolyn Lauckner ◽  
Charles A. Warnock ◽  
Anne Marie Schipani-McLaughlin ◽  
Danielle N. Lambert ◽  
Jessica L. Muilenburg

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