NIH: Individuals with SUD at Higher Risk for COVID-19 Breakthrough Infections, Severe Outcomes

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently published a study on COVID-19 breakthrough infections in individuals with substance use disorders (SUD). Researchers analyzed electronic health records and found that the risk of COVID-19 breakthrough infections among vaccinated patients with an SUD was low overall, but higher than the risk among vaccinated people without SUD. The study also found that co-occurring health conditions and adverse socioeconomic determinants of health, which are more common in people with SUD, appear to be largely responsible for the increased risk of COVID-19 breakthrough infections. Results of the study also found that people with SUD had elevated risk of severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death, following breakthrough infections. Read more