13 studies from China covering 5,960 hospitalized COVID-19 patients show that only 6.5% of them were smokers. The smoking rate in China is 26.6% (50.5% male and 2.1% female). US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data on 7,162 COVID-19 patients show that only 3% of those who required hospitalization were current smokers. The smoking rate in the United States is 13.7% (15.6% male and 12% female). |
Smokers are more likely to develop garden-variety colds and flus, so the above COVID-19 data are surprising. Smokers who become ill with COVID-19 are no more likely to be hospitalized than non-smokers. Notably, there is absolutely no evidence linking COVID-19 to nicotine vaping.
There is, however, no debate that people with ‘comorbidities’ like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are more likely to develop complications and die from COVID-19. Although the majority of smokers do not have COPD or CVD, most people with COPD are current or former smokers, as are many with CVD.
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Now, let’s do a quick survey of news reports from around the world to see what experts were saying about smoking and COVID-19 on April 7, 2020:
Excepting the last two pieces, the general tone of news stories urges smokers to quit because of COVID-19. Yet there is no actual evidence directly linking smoking to COVID-19 infections or hospitalizations.
There is, however, ample evidence linking smoking to 7 million deaths per year from cancer, heart, and lung disease. Efforts towards smoking cessation will continue to be crucial in global efforts against preventable deaths, with or without COVID-19.
It's time for America to reclaim its role in global health leadership - https://bit.ly/3oXnGp3
Important message @UN @unfoundation but vital that #globalhealth does not revert to being focused only on #infections A huge preventive potential exists thru ending smoking, promoting activity & healthy diets, with better mental health. https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/20/welcome-back-to-the-global-health-stage-america-you-have-a-lot-of-work-to-do/
After 2 years of implementation, @WHO has not produced a report on their #tobaccocontrol acceleration plan. In a @smokefreefdn blog post, @ehsanlatif writes, “We needn’t accept bureaucratic inaction & in fact, we have a moral imperative to demand change.” https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/761266-uneven-implementation-of-fctc-articles-impeding-tobacco-control
In response to the @WHO's recent report on the Tenth Meeting of the WHO Group on Tobacco Regulation, @SmokeFreeFdn developed an analysis with support from experts in the field of #TobaccoCessation and #HarmReduction and shared with stakeholders.
https://bit.ly/3nSSciE
#Inequality of access to aids that can improve health is a subject that must be addressed in 2021. "The disproportionate marketing of the riskiest tobacco products in socially and economically disadvantaged communities is particularly troubling.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30452712/
#Inequality in the @FCTCofficial’s #tobaccocontrol approach neglects the needs of 3 subgroups
1. People with #mentalhealth conditions
2. The Rainbow community
3. #Indigenous populations.
This analysis explores the ways these groups have been left behind:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/DAT-02-2020-0004/full/pdf?title=tobacco-smoking-in-three-left-behind-subgroups-indigenous-the-rainbow-community-and-people-with-mental-health-conditions
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