Prospective study of long COVID-related psychological and biological outcomes in individuals with tobacco use disorder.

BACKGROUND

Individuals with tobacco use disorder (TUD) may be particularly vulnerable to the challenges following long COVID.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed whether individuals with TUD and no prior neuropsychiatric conditions developed new symptoms following long COVID-19 infection.

METHODS

A cohort of 104 adults with TUD completed psychological and biological assessments before the COVID-19 pandemic and were reevaluated four months post-long COVID diagnosis. Evaluations covered mood symptoms, sleep, perceived stress, quality of life, and serum cortisol.

RESULTS

The participants exhibited marked increases in depressive symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, and perceived stress, accompanied by significant declines in sleep quality and quality of life (all p-values < 0.001). Serum cortisol levels decreased significantly, indicating altered HPA axis activity.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that long COVID may disproportionately influence addictive disorders, not only by exacerbating existing vulnerabilities, but potentially contributing to the onset of new mental health challenges.