Impact of Smoking on COVID-19 Symptoms in Non-Vaccinated Patients: A Matched Observational Study from Qatar

• Published in: Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare Vol. 15; pp. 531 - 540
• Main 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 A H, Abd Farag, Elmoubasher Abu Baker, Al-Thani, Mohammed H J, Al Moustafa, Ala-Eddin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 31.03.2022; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Analysis; Cigarettes; covid-19; Development and progression; frequency; Health aspects; Infection; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Original Research; qatar; Respiratory tract diseases; Smoking; symptoms; Vaccination; Saudi Arabia; Qatar; China; COVID-19; symptoms; Qatar; smoking; frequency
• ISSN: 1178-2390; 1178-2390
• DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S347130

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. 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. 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. 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.