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posted by martyb on Thursday April 16 2020, @10:52PM   Printer-friendly
from the Smoke-'em-if-you-got-'em? dept.

We received three different submissions pertaining to the effects of smoking on COVID-19. One study suggests that those who smoke have a reduced likelihood of hospitalization. The comingling of separate data for male and female patients and analysis based on that data seems unusual to me. The second report is not restricted to hospitalizations, but only to those who tested positive for the virus. Their results also suggested a lessened number of self-identified smokers than smoking rates in the general public would suggest. The third and final story submission introduced vaping to the discussion, and comes to the opposite conclusion in suggesting that smoking or vaping may increase the risk of contracting COVID-19.

Confounding these analyses is that all reports of smoking are self-reported. I can well imagine if someone had tried to quit smoking, and had convinced their spouse they had indeed stayed stopped, they would be reluctant to reveal in their spouse's presence that they were a smoker. If anything, though, would that not run counter to the possibility of a protective effect? As with most things pertaining to the virus, it is likely too early to tell for certain, but it does add another dimension to the discussion. Assuming that smoking does have a preventative effect, what could be the cause? Increased residue in the lungs makes it harder for the virus to latch onto the lung's cells and infect? Could it be that chemicals in the smoke serve to impair the virus's ability to survive in the lungs and cause an infection?

Study: Smokers Appear Less Likely to be Hospitalised with COVID-19

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/04/02/study-smokers-less-likely-to-be-hospitalised-with-covid-19/:

Smoking may reduce the likelihood of being hospitalised with coronavirus, claims a study.

Here is the abstract of the studySmoking, vaping and hospitalization for COVID-19 – by researchers at the University of West Attica in Greece and New York University.

The study presents an analysis of the current smoking prevalence among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in China, compared to the population smoking prevalence in China (52.1% in males and 2.7% in females). Through a systematic research of the literature (PubMed) we identified 7 studies examining the clinical characteristics of a total of 2352 hospitalized COVID-19 patients that presented data on the smoking status.

The expected number of smokers was calculated using the formula Expected smokers = (males x 0.521) + (females x 0.027). An unusually low prevalence of current smoking was observed among hospitalized COVID-19 patients (8.7%, 95%CI: 7.6-9.9%) compared to the expected prevalence based on smoking prevalence in China (30.3%, 95%CI: 28.4-32.1%; z-statistic: 22.80, P < 0.0001). This preliminary analysis does not support the argument that current smoking is a risk factor for hospitalization for COVID-19, and might even suggest a protective role.

The latter could be linked to the down-regulation of ACE2 expression that has been previously known to be induced by smoking. However, other confounding factors need to be considered and the accuracy of the recorded smoking status needs to be determined before making any firm conclusions. As a result, the generalized advice on quitting smoking as a measure to improve health risk remains valid, but no recommendation can currently be made concerning the effects of smoking on the risk of hospitalization for COVID-19.

No studies recording e-cigarette use status among hospitalized COVID-19 patients were identified. Thus, no recommendation can be made for e-cigarette users.

Does smoking PROTECT against coronavirus?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8214749/David-Hockney-claims-smoking-cigarettes-PROTECT-against-coronavirus.html:

When world-famous artist David Hockney wrote a letter to the Daily Mail saying he believes smoking could protect people against the coronavirus many scoffed.

Mr Hockney wrote: 'Could it not be that smokers have developed an immune system to this virus? With all these figures coming out, it's beginning to look like that to me.'

Understandably the claim was brushed off as laughable and 'rubbish' by many.

But is it?

A leading infectious disease expert at University College London, Professor Francois Balloux, said there is 'bizarrely strong' evidence it could be true.

And data from multiple Chinese studies shows that COVID-19 hospital patients contained a smaller proportion of smokers than the general population (6.5 per cent compared to 26.6 per cent), suggesting they were less likely to end up in hospital.

Another study, by America's Centers for Disease Control of over 7,000 people who tested positive for coronavirus, found that just 1.3 per cent of them were smokers - against the 14 per cent of all Americans that the CDC says smoke.

The study also found that the smokers stood no greater chance of ending up in hospital or an ICU.

The reasons for this are unclear.

FDA Shifts Its Covid-19 Stance on Vaping, Smoking Impact

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/fda-shifts-its-covid-19-stance-on-vaping-smoking-impact/ar-BB12HeLc:

(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration modified its stance on Covid-19 and vaping, saying it has an unknown effect on the risk of the new coronavirus, while warning that smoking can create worse outcomes.

"E-cigarette use can expose the lungs to toxic chemicals, but whether those exposures increase the risk of Covid-19 is not known," the agency said Wednesday in an emailed response to a question from Bloomberg News.

The agency had said late last month that vapers and smokers with underlying health conditions might be at higher risk from complications.

Its description of cigarettes' risks also differed from its earlier statements. "Cigarette smoking causes heart and lung diseases, suppresses the immune system, and increases the risk of respiratory infections," FDA spokeswoman Alison Hunt said. "People who smoke cigarettes may be at increased risk from Covid-19, and may have worse outcomes from Covid-19."


Original Submission #1Original Submission #2Original Submission #3

 
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  • (Score: 2) by krishnoid on Thursday April 16 2020, @11:14PM (17 children)

    by krishnoid (1156) on Thursday April 16 2020, @11:14PM (#983832)

    So this is big tobacco saying, "Smoke 'em if you got 'em?"

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 16 2020, @11:27PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 16 2020, @11:27PM (#983840)

    barbara hudson whom you replied to went up in smoke as apk burned her to no end here https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?noupdate=1&sid=33430&page=1&cid=889582#commentwrap [soylentnews.org]

  • (Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Thursday April 16 2020, @11:42PM (15 children)

    by barbara hudson (6443) <barbara.Jane.hudson@icloud.com> on Thursday April 16 2020, @11:42PM (#983848) Journal

    This is big tobacco doing what it's been doing for decades - buying lies.

    The latest research indicates that women have more active immune systems in part due to estrogen. Eat your hearts out all you trans-haters.

    --
    SoylentNews is social media. Says so right in the slogan. Soylentnews is people, not tech.
    • (Score: -1, Spam) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 16 2020, @11:46PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 16 2020, @11:46PM (#983851)

      Looks like you and marty b the blowhound who blew his brain apart with that dope are trying to bury your mistakes against apk barbara hudson https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?noupdate=1&sid=37102&page=1&cid=983828#commentwrap [soylentnews.org] but there is no hiding it.

    • (Score: -1, Spam) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 16 2020, @11:54PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 16 2020, @11:54PM (#983854)

      You have lost all credibility on any account barbara hudson https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?noupdate=1&sid=33430&page=1&cid=889582#commentwrap [soylentnews.org] not that a fool like you has any and if you are a tranny? You have doubly crapped yourself after your errors on all levels shown in that link.

    • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @12:39AM (12 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @12:39AM (#983879)

      The latest research indicates that women have more active immune systems in part due to estrogen.

      Yeah, but real women don't have to buy theirs at the drug store

      • (Score: 5, Informative) by Magic Oddball on Friday April 17 2020, @01:37AM (9 children)

        by Magic Oddball (3847) on Friday April 17 2020, @01:37AM (#983898) Journal

        Nope, I'm definitely a real, natural, biological, XX-chromosome-carrying woman, and I've had to take hormone pills ever since my ovaries self-destructed when I was 13 years old. A lot of older women also take it to avoid the damaging effects of menopause.

        • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @04:33AM (7 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @04:33AM (#983975)

          Yours is a medical necessity. Barb does it by choice.

          • (Score: 3, Insightful) by meustrus on Friday April 17 2020, @04:51PM (6 children)

            by meustrus (4961) on Friday April 17 2020, @04:51PM (#984177)

            Naw, Magic Oddball has a choice too. She could not take estrogen and live with chronic low levels of any sex hormone. Heck, she could take testosterone - that would be a medically protective as taking estrogen, just with extremely different side effects.

            We make lots of choices throughout our lives. Some of those choices are necessary, some are not. Who are you to declare which ones are which?

            --
            If there isn't at least one reference or primary source, it's not +1 Informative. Maybe the underused +1 Interesting?
            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @07:45PM (2 children)

              by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @07:45PM (#984273)

              You don't get it. There is a big difference between the two cases. Barb is always gonna be open to the same cheap shots she offers up.

              And people need to lighten the fuck up!

              • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @10:12PM (1 child)

                by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @10:12PM (#984340)

                Asshole humor is always a tricky thing and very dependent on the audience and walking the line between offensive and funny.

                You don't have a right to demand acceptance of your joke or to prevent people from criticizing you.

                • (Score: 0, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @11:00PM

                  by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @11:00PM (#984360)

                  You don't have a right to demand acceptance of your joke or to prevent people from criticizing you.

                  Yeah I do

            • (Score: 3, Informative) by barbara hudson on Saturday April 18 2020, @01:25AM (2 children)

              by barbara hudson (6443) <barbara.Jane.hudson@icloud.com> on Saturday April 18 2020, @01:25AM (#984407) Journal
              Actually, testosterone isn't as protective as estrogen. Estrogen allows muscles to recover from over stress with less damage. It also helps with immune response. [nih.gov]

              Overall, females tend to have more responsive and robust immune system compared to their male counterparts

              This makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint - females are more important in ensuring the survival of the species. 1male and 99 females have more chance of raising 100 replacements than 99 males and 1 female. Females are the bottleneck.

              Testosterone supplementation is risky in comparison to estrogen supplementation. The studies that claimed HRT for women was dangerous and should be the lowest dose for the shortest time are now known to be totally bogus.

              Then there's 'roid rage. Don't see that with estrogen, just testosterone.

              Menopause is not normal. Out of over 10,000 species of mammals, only a handful ever experience menopause. It wasn't an issue when the average human lifespan was 19 years, but now … there's no reason women shouldn't be on HRT until they die of other causes.

              --
              SoylentNews is social media. Says so right in the slogan. Soylentnews is people, not tech.
              • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 18 2020, @02:45AM

                by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 18 2020, @02:45AM (#984438)

                females are more important in ensuring the survival of the species.

                Yeah, the ones that can reproduce

              • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 22 2020, @12:42AM

                by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 22 2020, @12:42AM (#985617)

                What happened barbara hudson? Did you shoot your mouth off only to have it slammed shut by APK https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?noupdate=1&sid=33430&page=1&cid=889582#commentwrap [soylentnews.org] ? Yes. Go AWAY "TraNsTesTiCuLaR MONSTROSITY". Did you really think apk apologized to you (no you posted that yourself by anonymous impersonating him) https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?cid=937346&sid=35327 [soylentnews.org] ? No but you try to deceive others with it that he did. You only fool yourself just like you do in your delusion you are a real woman. You're not. You're a clearly insane male dosed on estrogen to give you bitch tits, nothing more.

        • (Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Friday April 17 2020, @01:17PM

          by Phoenix666 (552) on Friday April 17 2020, @01:17PM (#984097) Journal

          That's rough. Sorry to hear that. My wife is entering that now and it's not a fun ride.

          --
          Washington DC delenda est.
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @01:43AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @01:43AM (#983901)
        So men don't by viagra, cialis, anabolic steroids, etc?
      • (Score: 3, Funny) by DannyB on Friday April 17 2020, @02:02PM

        by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Friday April 17 2020, @02:02PM (#984109) Journal

        What do you have against better life through pharmaceuticals?

        --
        People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.