Active smokers are at higher risk of COVID-19 death
Patanavanich R, Siripoon T, Amponnavarat S, et al. Active smokers are at higher risk of COVID-19 death: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nicotine Tob Res. 2022 Apr 1; ntac085. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntac085. Online ahead of print. After a meta-analysis of 34 articles on smoking and COVID-19 deaths, authors “confirmed the association between current smoking (OR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.01-1.58) and former smoking (OR 1.76, 95% CI: 1.53-2.03) with COVID-19 mortality.” They conclude, “Current and former smokers are at higher risk of dying from COVID-19. Tobacco control should be strengthened to encourage current smokers to quit and prevent smoking initiation. Public health professionals should take the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to promote smoking prevention and cessation.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35363877/
Stephen Hamann
