@article{MRA, author = {Wen-Jan Tuan and Michael Partin and Grace Hwang and Christopher Heron and Kyle Burke and Adriana Von Rago and Aleksandra Zgierska}, title = { Risk of COVID-19 reinfection and its severe complications in adults treated with long-term opioids for chronic non-cancer pain}, journal = {Medical Research Archives}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, year = {2024}, keywords = {}, abstract = {Introduction: With the sequelae of the COVID-19 pandemic, many concerns remain about reinfection and waning immunity against the virus and its variants. Objective: This study aimed to assess the risk of COVID-19 reinfection and its severe complications in adults treated with long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) for chronic non-cancer pain. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX database of over 2,120,701 adults infected by COVID-19 between January 2020 and June 2022. The reinfection was defined as a new COVID-19 infection recorded after at least 30 days after the initial one. Logistic regression was applied to evaluate the probability of reinfection and severe COVID-19 illness (measured by emergence department (ED) visits, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) care, or death) within 30 days of the reinfection, controlled for baseline demographic and comorbid conditions. Results: The study included 36,265 adults treated with LTOT. Adults on LTOT, compared to those without LTOT, were 2.8 times more likely to have a COVID-19 reinfection, and, after re-infected, were 1.4-1.6 times more likely to be admitted to ED, hospital, and ICU, though no impact was found on a 30-day mortality. Conclusion: the study findings can help guide clinical decisions about the level of monitoring and care for adults treated with LTOT for chronic non-cancer pain who experience a COVID-19 reinfection. Future prospective research is needed to fully understand the components of risk and optimal risk mitigation strategies of COVID-19 reinfection in adults on LTOT.}, issn = {2375-1924}, doi = {10.18103/mra.v12i10.5931}, url = {https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/5931} }