Hygiena 2020, 65(2):78-79 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a1756

Coronavirus and smoking

Eva Králíková^1,2

¹ Univerzita Karlova, 1. lékařská fakulta, Ústav hygieny a epidemiologie a Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice v Praze, Praha, Česká republika

² Univerzita Karlova, 1. lékařská fakulta, III. interní klinika - klinika endokrinologie a metabolismu, Centrum pro závislé na tabáku a Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice v Praze, Praha, Česká republika

Early publications on the characteristics of diagnosed patients with the new type of SARS CoV-19 coronavirus indicate a lower proportion of smokers compared to prevalence in the given populations, although smoking status is very rarely reported. Hospitalised smokers, on the other hand, have more severe disease progression than non-smokers and are at higher risk of death, particularly the complications in which smoking is involved, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, renal or cardiovascular failure. Also, the relationship of smoking with the ACE2 receptors is discussed. We do not know the possible misleading and confounding factors or the exact data on current or former smoking, so no clear opinion can be given in this context so far. However, the recommendation not to smoke is still valid.

Keywords: smoking, coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Received: April 2020; Accepted: April 21, 2020; Published: May 31, 2020  Show citation