Smoking Is Associated With COVID-19 Progression
Patanavanich R, Glantz SA. Smoking Is Associated With COVID-19 Progression: A Meta-analysis. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, ntaa082; https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntaa082/5835834
A random effects meta-analysis was applied to 19 peer-reviewed papers completed to April 28, 2020. “The meta-analysis showed a significant association between smoking and progression of COVID-19 (OR 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42-2.59, p = 0.001). Limitations in the 19 papers suggest that the actual risk of smoking may be higher.”
Authors urge, “Physicians and public health professionals should collect data on smoking as part of clinical management and add smoking cessation to the list of practices to blunt the COVID-19 pandemic.”
by Stephen Hamann
