Modern view on problem of alcohol and drug dependence in context of HIV and COVID‑19 syndemia

Abstract

Objective. To study the vulnerability of a group of drug users to the HIV/COVID‑19 syndemic.Methods and materials. We used data from personalized registration of patients with HIV infection in the Moscow region, which were ill with covid‑19 in 2020–2021.Results. Alcohol and drug addiction are an additional factor that makes the course of COVID‑19 more severe in patients with HIV infection. The reasons for this additional influence, both in the vulnerability of this group due to behavioral risks, and in psychosocial problems affecting adherence to HIV treatment, and this factor does not allow achieving the immunological and virological effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy.Conclusions. The article presents data showing that people living with HIV/AIDS, suffering from alcohol and drug addiction, are more vulnerable to COVID‑19 in terms of severity and mortality from the disease.