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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, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @02:34AM (14 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @02:34AM (#983915)

    "At the last election, it came down to one of two choices at the polls. That's the way it usually goes. The alternative to Trump was much worse than Trump."

    Was she? Really? I am pretty sure we wouldn't have nearly as much raging incompetence if Hillary were in charge right now. Don't get me wrong: I’m sure she would have her own set of screwups, but nothing like we have seen these last few years.

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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday April 17 2020, @03:20AM (13 children)

    She was the most corrupt politician to ever run for the office, so, yes, she was worse.

    --
    My rights don't end where your fear begins.
    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by dry on Friday April 17 2020, @04:22AM (12 children)

      by dry (223) on Friday April 17 2020, @04:22AM (#983970) Journal

      Don't you mean the most investigated politician in history? All I remember is investigation after investigation by people who were highly motivated to find dirt and guilt .
      Perhaps it's the old thing, if someone gets arrested, tried, and found not guilty, people think they're guilty.
      From the outside looking in, one depressing thing was how few people voted third party in your last election that seemed to be a contest on who was the most corrupt with the winner becoming President. Really a political system that was designed in the 18th century is perhaps not the best for the 21st century.

      • (Score: 3, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday April 17 2020, @04:35AM (8 children)

        No, I really, really don't. She's walked away from things that would have landed any other politician in prison without so much as a slap on the wrist and the overwhelming majority of the very serious things she gets accused of that there is either compelling evidence or outright proof of never get investigated at all. She's straight up gangsta.

        --
        My rights don't end where your fear begins.
        • (Score: 2) by dry on Friday April 17 2020, @04:41AM (7 children)

          by dry (223) on Friday April 17 2020, @04:41AM (#983981) Journal

          I guess the Republicans love her.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @04:49AM (6 children)

            by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @04:49AM (#983987)

            I think you uncovered a new syndrome, HDS. You'd think after she lost they'd be done giving her a hard time, but sadly she is the only cover for their TDS they keep trying to hide.

            • (Score: 3, Touché) by dry on Friday April 17 2020, @04:57AM (4 children)

              by dry (223) on Friday April 17 2020, @04:57AM (#983993) Journal

              Yea, it amazes the hate that Hillary gets. Yes, she is unlikable but seems like your average corrupt American politician, doesn't even hide her taxes like some do, hasn't had her charity or university closed for illegal actions like some do.

              • (Score: 3, Insightful) by redneckmother on Friday April 17 2020, @07:56AM

                by redneckmother (3597) on Friday April 17 2020, @07:56AM (#984037)

                The (our?) system is the problem. As are the "popular" attitudes of many of our citizens.

                We've abdicated our humanity, our neighborliness, our individualism, our responsibilities, our power as individuals and a society, to the almighty fucking dollar.

                It's now a "FUCK you, I got Mine" and / or "Fuck YOU, I'm gonna screw you outta yours" world. Never mind that if YOU fail, I will, too (in the long run, it just might not be apparent in the short run).

                --
                Mas cerveza por favor.
              • (Score: 3, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday April 17 2020, @01:05PM (2 children)

                She hides the money from the government so it isn't taxed rather than hiding her taxes. Money is the absolute least of what makes her a contemptible person though.

                --
                My rights don't end where your fear begins.
                • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @10:17PM (1 child)

                  by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 17 2020, @10:17PM (#984342)

                  As usual no citations.

                  We went through all of this in 2016 anyway, and yet there was less evidence and proof found for her supposed crimes than for all of Trump's. And Clinton didn't have the DOD and a majority in congress covering for her.

                  At some point you'll have to come to terms with the fact that you have beliefs not grounded in reality.

                  • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday April 18 2020, @05:29PM

                    by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Saturday April 18 2020, @05:29PM (#984614) Homepage Journal

                    Bzzzt! There was no "proof" found for Trump's crimes. Hearsay and supposition is not proof and what specific crimes he was actually supposed to be guilty of was left extremely vague. On the other hand, Hillary's email server, as just one example, was found to be unquestionably illegal by the FBI and then no charges were filed when Comey decided it was okay because "she didn't mean to do anything wrong".

                    --
                    My rights don't end where your fear begins.
            • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday April 17 2020, @01:03PM

              Nah. There's a huge difference between following someone's every word and completely losing my shit about everything they say or do and recognizing that someone sucks ass at being a human being. I don't even know what the wicked witch of the west wing is doing these days, much less cyberstalk her looking for things to rage about.

              --
              My rights don't end where your fear begins.
      • (Score: 1) by khallow on Friday April 17 2020, @07:34PM (2 children)

        by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Friday April 17 2020, @07:34PM (#984266) Journal

        All I remember is investigation after investigation by people who were highly motivated to find dirt and guilt .

        And they did. For example, plenty of dirt and guilt (federal felony level guilt) in the private email server.

        • (Score: 2) by dry on Friday April 17 2020, @10:52PM (1 child)

          by dry (223) on Friday April 17 2020, @10:52PM (#984358) Journal

          I guess that is why she's in prison. Or perhaps Trump told his Justice Department not to pursue his friend.

          • (Score: 1) by khallow on Saturday April 18 2020, @02:31AM

            by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Saturday April 18 2020, @02:31AM (#984431) Journal

            I guess that is why she's in prison.

            Exactly the point.