Current smoking and COVID-19 risk: results from a population symptom app in over 2.4 million people.
clinical epidemiology
respiratory infection
tobacco and the lung
viral infection
Journal
Thorax
ISSN: 1468-3296
Titre abrégé: Thorax
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0417353
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
07 2021
07 2021
Historique:
received:
19
10
2020
revised:
07
11
2020
accepted:
22
11
2020
pubmed:
7
1
2021
medline:
2
7
2021
entrez:
6
1
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The association between current tobacco smoking, the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 and the severity of illness is an important information gap. UK users of the Zoe COVID-19 Symptom Study app provided baseline data including demographics, anthropometrics, smoking status and medical conditions, and were asked to log their condition daily. Participants who reported that they did not feel physically normal were then asked by the app to complete a series of questions, including 14 potential COVID-19 symptoms and about hospital attendance. The main study outcome was the development of 'classic' symptoms of COVID-19 during the pandemic defined as fever, new persistent cough and breathlessness and their association with current smoking. The number of concurrent COVID-19 symptoms was used as a proxy for severity and the pattern of association between symptoms was also compared between smokers and non-smokers. Between 24 March 2020 and 23 April 2020, data were available on 2 401 982 participants, mean (SD) age 43.6 (15.1) years, 63.3% female, overall smoking prevalence 11.0%. 834 437 (35%) participants reported being unwell and entered one or more symptoms. Current smokers were more likely to report symptoms suggesting a diagnosis of COVID-19; classic symptoms adjusted OR (95% CI) 1.14 (1.10 to 1.18); >5 symptoms 1.29 (1.26 to 1.31); >10 symptoms 1.50 (1.42 to 1.58). The pattern of association between reported symptoms did not vary between smokers and non-smokers. These data are consistent with people who smoke being at an increased risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
The association between current tobacco smoking, the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 and the severity of illness is an important information gap.
METHODS
UK users of the Zoe COVID-19 Symptom Study app provided baseline data including demographics, anthropometrics, smoking status and medical conditions, and were asked to log their condition daily. Participants who reported that they did not feel physically normal were then asked by the app to complete a series of questions, including 14 potential COVID-19 symptoms and about hospital attendance. The main study outcome was the development of 'classic' symptoms of COVID-19 during the pandemic defined as fever, new persistent cough and breathlessness and their association with current smoking. The number of concurrent COVID-19 symptoms was used as a proxy for severity and the pattern of association between symptoms was also compared between smokers and non-smokers.
RESULTS
Between 24 March 2020 and 23 April 2020, data were available on 2 401 982 participants, mean (SD) age 43.6 (15.1) years, 63.3% female, overall smoking prevalence 11.0%. 834 437 (35%) participants reported being unwell and entered one or more symptoms. Current smokers were more likely to report symptoms suggesting a diagnosis of COVID-19; classic symptoms adjusted OR (95% CI) 1.14 (1.10 to 1.18); >5 symptoms 1.29 (1.26 to 1.31); >10 symptoms 1.50 (1.42 to 1.58). The pattern of association between reported symptoms did not vary between smokers and non-smokers.
INTERPRETATION
These data are consistent with people who smoke being at an increased risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33402392
pii: thoraxjnl-2020-216422
doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2020-216422
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
714-722Subventions
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MR/M004422/1
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MR/S019669/1
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : British Heart Foundation
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Wellcome Trust
ID : 212904/Z/18/Z
Pays : United Kingdom
Commentaires et corrections
Type : CommentIn
Informations de copyright
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interests: NSH is Chair of Action on Smoking and Health and Medical Director of The British Lung Foundation. TDS is a consultant to Zoe Global Ltd (Zoe), who developed the app. JW and RD are employees of Zoe Global Ltd.