Covid 19 and Smoking, a European Meta-analysis

[michael edward badolato jr]

https://err.ersjournals.com/content/32/167/220191

[michael edward badolato jr]

The role of smoking in COVID-19 progression: a comprehensive meta-analysis
Silvano Gallus, Marco Scala, Irene Possenti, Carlotta Micaela Jarach, Luke Clancy, Esteve Fernandez, Giuseppe Gorini, Giulia Carreras, Maria Chiara Malevolti, Alison Commar, Ranti Fayokun, Hebe N. Gouda, Vinayak M. Prasad, Alessandra Lugo
European Respiratory Review 2023 32: 220191; DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0191-2022
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Abstract
The association between current smoking and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) progression remains uncertain. We aim to provide up-to-date evidence of the role of cigarette smoking in COVID-19 hospitalisation, severity and mortality. On 23 February 2022 we conducted an umbrella review and a traditional systematic review via PubMed/Medline and Web of Science. We used random-effects meta-analyses to derive pooled odds ratios of COVID-19 outcomes for smokers in cohorts of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infected individuals or COVID-19 patients. We followed the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology reporting guidelines. PROSPERO: CRD42020207003. 320 publications were included. The pooled odds ratio for current versus never or nonsmokers was 1.08 (95% CI 0.98–1.19; 37 studies) for hospitalisation, 1.34 (95% CI 1.22–1.48; 124 studies) for severity and 1.32 (95% CI 1.20–1.45; 119 studies) for mortality. Estimates for former versus never-smokers were 1.16 (95% CI 1.03–1.31; 22 studies), 1.41 (95% CI: 1.25–1.59; 44 studies) and 1.46 (95% CI 1.31–1.62; 44 studies), respectively. Estimates for ever- versus never-smokers were 1.16 (95% CI 1.05–1.27; 33 studies), 1.44 (95% CI 1.31–1.58; 110 studies) and 1.39 (95% CI 1.29–1.50; 109 studies), respectively. We found a 30–50% excess risk of COVID-19 progression for current and former smokers compared with never-smokers. Preventing serious COVID-19 outcomes, including death, seems the newest compelling argument against smoking.