Findings of a recent systematic review:

Constantine I Vardavas and Katerina Nikitara reviewed 5 available studies including just over 1500 patients and found

• smokers are 1.4 times more likely to have severe symptoms of COVID-19 (RR=1.4, 95% CI: 0.98–2.00)

• smokers around 2.4 times more likely to be admitted to an ICU, need mechanical ventilation or die of COVID-19 (RR=2.4, 95% CI: 1.43–4.04)

The authors site a lack of available data and adjustment for other factors.

The full article can be seen here

Reference

Constantine I. Vardavas and Katerina Nikitara. COVID-19 and smoking: A systematic review of the evidence. Tob Induc Dis. 2020; 18: 20. doi: 10.18332/tid/119324

This post was written by Dr Rachel Coles, paediatric trainee, on 26th March 2020

Please contact covid@medshr.net with any comments or further information