P4632 - The Impact of COVID-19 on Alcohol Related Morbidity and Mortality: A Large Multicenter Study

Abhinav Rao, MD¹, Aidan Lum Kong, MD², Craig Herrforth, MD², Jad Allam, MD³, Erica Paulos, MS², Nancy Crossley, MD², Don Rockey, MD^3
1Trident Medical Center, Charleston, SC; ²Trident Medical Center, North Charleston, SC; ³Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Introduction: During the COVID pandemic, there was a notable rise in alcohol use nation wide [1-9]. In this study, we examined the effect of COVID on alcohol-related comorbidities. Specifically, we investigated the effect of COVID on alcohol-related hospital length of stay, discharge disposition and mortality.

Methods: Deidentified claims data spanning 2018 through 2022 (excluding 2020) from HCA’s Enterprise Data Warehouse (“EDW”), including medical claims for all HCA patients in South Atlantic Division HCA facilities. The population included adults aged > 18 years who had an encounter at an HCA facility and a diagnosis of alcohol use or alcohol-related illnesses. Two time categories were evaluated - 2018-2019 (pre-COVID pandemic) and 2021-2022 (COVID pandemic). Chi-square, t-tests, and regression (logistic and linear) analyses were performed to evaluate length of stay (LOS), home discharge, and mortality.

Results: Of the 72,575 patients that met the inclusion criteria for alcohol use and related illness, the majority were male, had an average age of 50-years-old, and were predominantly White. Among the 26,678 patients during the COVID time period (2021-2022), 12,735 (35%) patients were diagnosed with COVID (p < 0.001). During the COVID period, there was a 34% increase in mortality, 2.1% fewer discharges home, and an increase in average length of stay by 0.51 days (all p < 0.001,). Furthermore,, COVID positive patients had a longer length of stay by 3 days, 60% less likelihood of being discharged home, and 284% increase in inpatient mortality compared to the pre-COVID period (all p < 0.001).

Discussion: Patients diagnosed with COVID and alcohol related morbidity had longer length of stays, fewer discharges home, and higher mortality. Together, the data suggest that COVID causes increased morbidity in patients with an alcohol related illness.


Disclosures:


Abhinav Rao, MD¹, Aidan Lum Kong, MD², Craig Herrforth, MD², Jad Allam, MD³, Erica Paulos, MS², Nancy Crossley, MD², Don Rockey, MD³. P4632 - The Impact of COVID-19 on Alcohol Related Morbidity and Mortality: A Large Multicenter Study, ACG 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Philadelphia, PA: American College of Gastroenterology.