Heavy smokers face almost DOUBLE risk of dying from COVID-19 compared to people who never smoked

Heavy smokers face almost DOUBLE risk of dying from COVID-19 compared to people who never smoked

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Heavy smokers face almost DOUBLE risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 or dying compared to people who never smoked, according to study

  • The researchers looked at more than 7,000 coronavirus patients, including more than 6,000 never smokers and the remainder being current smokers or ex-smokers
  • Patients who smoked at least one pack a day between 10 and 30 years of age were almost 1.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19
  • Those who consumed a pack a day for more than 30 years were 2.25 times more likely to be hospitalized because of the disease
  • Patients who smoke for more than 30 years are 1.9 times more likely to die from the virus than those who have never smoked before

By Mary Kekatos Senior Health Reporter at Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

Cigarette smokers face a much higher risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 compared to those who have never smoked, a new study suggests.

The researchers found that all smokers were more likely to have poor results due to the virus, but those at higher risk were heavy smokers, defined as those who smoke at least one pack a day for more than 30 years.

These patients had almost twice the risk of death from COVID-19 and were more than twice as likely to be hospitalized because of the disease.

The Cleveland Clinic team says their findings are the most complete evidence to date of a cause and effect relationship between smoking and an increased risk of serious illness and death.

A new Cleveland Clinic study found that patients who smoke a pack a day for more than 30 years (far right) were more likely to be hospitalized or die of COVID-19 than those who had never smoked before (far left)

A new Cleveland Clinic study found that patients who smoke a pack a day for more than 30 years (far right) were more likely to be hospitalized or die of COVID-19 than those who had never smoked before (far left)

Cleveland Clinic researchers analyzed more than 7,000 coronavirus patients, including more than 6,000 who had never smoked and the rest were current smokers or ex-smokers (archive image)

Cleveland Clinic researchers analyzed more than 7,000 coronavirus patients, including more than 6,000 who had never smoked and the rest were current smokers or ex-smokers (archive image)

Research linking smoking with severe COVID-19 infection and death has been limited and contradictory.

Early last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that cigarettes may increase the risk of contracting the disease.

“People who smoke cigarettes may be at higher risk of infection with the virus that causes COVID-19, and may have worse results with COVID-19,” the agency said in a statement.

The FDA had previously warned of “worse results” for coronavirus among smokers, but did not specify what that meant.

In addition, a French study found that only 4.4 percent of 350 hospitalized coronavirus patients were regular smokers and theorized that nicotine could prevent the virus from infecting cells.

For the new study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the team examined data from all patients who tested positive for COVID-19 in the Cleveland Clinic health system in Ohio and Florida between March 8, 2020 and August 25, 2020 .

Patients who have smoked for more than 30 years are 1.9 times more likely to die from the virus than those who have never smoked before. In the photo: Chaplain Kevin Deegan puts his hand on the head of a COVID-19 patient while praying for him at the Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, January 9, 2021

Patients who smoke for more than 30 years are 1.9 times more likely to die from the virus than those who have never smoked before. In the photo: Chaplain Kevin Deegan puts his hand on the head of a COVID-19 patient while praying for him at the Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, January 9, 2021

Of the 7,102 patients, the majority – 84.8 percent or 6,020 – had never smoked before.

Almost 13 percent were ex-smokers and about 2.4 percent were current smokers.

A total of 341 smoked or smoked a pack a day between zero and 10 years, 400 smoked for 10 to 30 years and 341 smoked a pack a day for more than 30 years.

The results showed that the longer the patients smoked, the greater the risks of hospitalization and death.

Patients who smoked at least one pack a day between 10 and 30 years of age were almost 1.5 times more likely to be hospitalized after the diagnosis of COVID-19 than patients who never smoked.

Those who consumed a pack a day for more than 30 years were 2.25 times more likely to be hospitalized due to the disease.

Both were also 1.5 times more likely to be admitted to the ICU.

When it came to risk of death, people who smoked from zero to 10 years old were 1.6 times more likely to die, people who smoked from 10 to 30 years old were 1.5 times more likely to die than never smokers.

For those who smoked at least one pack a day for more than 30 years, patients were 1.9 times more likely to die.

The team said there was no difference in the risk of hospitalization and death between current smokers and ex-smokers.

“The results of this study suggest that cumulative exposure to cigarette smoke is an independent risk factor for hospital admission and death from COVID-19,” they wrote.

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