ArticleBMC infectious diseases2026
Investigating the role of opium consumption in the severity, and outcome of COVID-19.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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6 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major challenge to healthcare systems and public health policies globally. Older adults and those with underlying diseases such as hypertension and diabetes are more susceptible to coronavirus. The impact of opium use as a risk factor for COVID-19 is yet uncertain. This study investigates the effect of opium consumption on the severity of COVID-19, and its adverse consequences in opium users compared to the general population.
methodsThis cross-sectional study included 2945 COVID-19 patients that had been referred to health care centers affiliated to Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences between February and December 2020. Opium use was defined as self-reported consumption at least once per week. COVID-19 severity was assessed based on routinely collected clinical and radiological indicators, including respiratory symptoms, oxygen saturation, and imaging findings, rather than a standardized severity scale. The personal, and clinical data including clinical presentation, the severity of symptoms, and outcome were collected. Then, the COVID-19 severity, and outcome between opium users and opium non-users were compared using Logistic regression models.
resultsThe rate of opium users was 5.13%. Among opium users, 87.42% recovered from COVID-19, compared with 86.07% of non-users (p = 0.641). Opium use was associated with lower odds of moderate-to-severe COVID-19 in the crude model (OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.34–0.66), and this association remained significant after adjustment for confounders. Opium consumption was not significantly associated with COVID-19 mortality in either crude or adjusted models.
conclusionOpium use was associated with lower COVID-19 severity but not with mortality. These findings represent associations and should be interpreted with caution given the observational design and it is suggested more laboratory and clinical trial studies using pharmaceutical morphine products, the main component of opium. CLINICAL TRIAL: Not applicable.
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