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- Title
Impact of Smoking on COVID-19 Symptoms in Non-Vaccinated Patients: A Matched Observational Study from Qatar.
- Authors
Haider, Mohammad Z; Al-Mannai, Amna; Al-Sirhan, Sally; Elsabagh, Ahmed; Nasser, Nasser; Al-Quraishi, Noora; Ouda, Amr; Erradi, Khadija; Ashour, Anas A; Gupta, Ishita; Abdulmajeed, Jazeel; Al-Romaihi, Hamad E; Bansal, Devendra; Musa, Omran AH; Farag, Elmoubasher Abu Baker Abd; Al-Thani, Mohammed HJ; Moustafa, Ala-Eddin Al
- Abstract
Purpose: Predisposition to acute illness from COVID-19 is suggested to correlate with cigarette smoking as it augments the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, including infections. However, the effects of smoking on COVID-19 symptoms are not well described and controversial. In this study, we aim to explore the associations between smoking and COVID-19 symptoms. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study using the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Qatar database was administered to a Qatari population with confirmed COVID-19 disease who filled in pre-defined phone-call questionnaire between 27th February 2020 and 31st December 2020. We analyzed 11,701 non-vaccinated COVID-19 individuals (2952 smokers and 8749 non-smokers) with confirmed RT-PCR test results. The association of smoking and the presence of symptoms as well as patient characteristics was calculated using Pearson's Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, adjusting for potential covariates. Results: Compared with the non-smokers, symptomatic COVID-19 infection is significantly higher in smokers. In addition, we found fever as the most common symptom developed in COVID-19 patients followed by cough, headache, muscle ache, and sore throat. As compared to other symptoms, association of smoking with chills and abdominal pain was less evident (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). However, both groups showed similar rates of developing cough. Conclusion: In conclusion, smoking is associated with COVID-19 symptoms frequency in non-vaccinated patients; nevertheless, further investigations are necessary to understand the mechanism of this association which could generate new targets for the management of COVID-19 in smoker patients.
- Subjects
QATAR; COUGH; COVID-19; SYMPTOMS; ABDOMINAL pain; CIGARETTE smoke; FISHER exact test
- Publication
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 2022, Vol 15, p531
- ISSN
1178-2390
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2147/JMDH.S347130