Impacts on anxiety symptoms and alcohol consumption among people with disabilities and family caregivers in Latin America and the Caribbean during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse associations between the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol consumption and anxiety symptoms among people with self-reported disabilities and family caregivers in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study with secondary data analysis of the 'Alcohol Use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean', a Web-based cross-sectional survey conducted by the Pan American Health Organisation between March and June 2020.

Methods: Descriptive analyses were conducted on the individual, social environment characteristics, COVID-19 infection, quarantine compliance, anxiety symptoms (measured by Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale [GAD-7]) and change in frequency of heavy episodic drinking during the pandemic.