Positive Correlation Between Heavy Alcoholic Drinking and SARS-Cov-2 Non-Infection Rate

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Alcohol Research

Background:

• During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, unsubstantiated claims suggested alcohol consumption could prevent infection or disease.
• A need existed for empirical data to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption patterns and SARS-CoV-2 infection rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if heavy alcohol drinkers and non-drinkers experienced different SARS-CoV-2 infection rates.
• To explore the association between the frequency of alcohol consumption and the likelihood of remaining uninfected by SARS-CoV-2.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted in China among 211 participants using social media platforms.
• Participants reported their SARS-CoV-2 infection status and alcohol drinking behavior, specifically Chinese Spirits (BaiJiu) consumption frequency.
• Drinking frequency was categorized into: never/occasional, 1-2 times/week, and 3+ times/week.

Main Results:

• The study included 211 participants (51.2% male, mean age 38.8 years).
• Higher frequencies of alcohol consumption (3+ times/week) were associated with a greater percentage of uninfected individuals (38.6%) compared to occasional drinkers (20.9%).
• The Cochran-Armitage trend test indicated a statistically significant relationship between drinking behavior and infection status (p=0.0209).

Conclusions:

• A significant association was observed between alcohol drinking habits and the likelihood of avoiding SARS-CoV-2 infection, within the study's limitations.
• The findings suggest a potential protective effect of frequent alcohol consumption against SARS-CoV-2, warranting further investigation.
• Authors caution against premature conclusions and emphasize the need for rigorous research to guide ethanol use in pandemic contexts.