COVID-19 and smoking: does smoking reduce the rsk of infection?
Controversial clinical studies
Faced with the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 between late 2019 and early 2020, numerous scientific teams worldwide mobilized to identify risk and protective factors against COVID-19. Among the many hypotheses examined, some preliminary studies caused surprise by suggesting that smokers were proportionally fewer among patients testing positive or hospitalized for COVID-19, compared to the general population.
These results, primarily from retrospective analyses or hospital registries, suggested that nicotine could have a protective effect against the virus. Quickly relayed by the media, this hypothesis fueled some confusion in public opinion, sometimes perceived as a justification for continuing to smoke.
However, caution was warranted from the very first interpretations. These studies were primarily observational and not experimental, meaning they could not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Furthermore, several confounding factors were quickly identified. For example, smokers severely affected by COVID-19 were sometimes less likely to be correctly identified as such, due to incomplete or poorly documented medical data upon admission.
Furthermore, behavioral factors may have skewed the results: smokers, often aware of their respiratory vulnerability, may have avoided testing sites or minimized their symptoms, which would artificially reduce their presence in hospital statistics.
Finally, some of these studies were conducted in countries where tobacco consumption is highly stigmatized, which can lead to underreporting of smoking status, even in medical surveys. In summary, the methodology of these studies is largely questionable, and their results cannot in any way serve to justify or trivialize tobacco consumption in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A scientifically unconfirmed hypothesis
Despite the media interest generated by the idea that nicotine could have a protective effect against COVID-19, this hypothesis has never been rigorously validated by the international scientific community. The initial studies that suggested this link were very quickly challenged, particularly due to major methodological biases.
Several criticisms were raised: the studied population samples were often neither representative nor sufficiently large, the collected data were sometimes incomplete or poorly documented, and certain essential variables, such as the existence of comorbidities, lifestyle habits, or socioeconomic status, were not taken into account. Furthermore, the screening methods used in these studies were often not very sensitive, which could have led to falsely reassuring results.
Some of these publications were even retracted from scientific journals, due to lack of peer validation or following additional verifications revealing errors or hasty interpretations. Other studies, although conducted more rigorously, did not find a protective link between nicotine and SARS-CoV-2.
Today, no solid scientific evidence confirms that tobacco or nicotine reduce the risk of infection or severe forms of COVID-19. On the contrary, the most reliable data available to date tend to confirm that smoking is a significant aggravating factor in the progression of the disease, due to its impact on the respiratory and immune systems.
Smoking and COVID-19: the risks are very real for smokers
Clear data from the WHO
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), smokers have a 40 to 50% increased risk of developing a severe form of COVID-19. This includes an increased likelihood of hospitalization, ventilation, admission to intensive care, and even death. Other research estimates that this risk could reach up to 80% for heavy smokers.
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Tobacco, a recognized killer
In Luxembourg, tobacco remains one of the leading causes of preventable death. In 2021, nearly 500 deaths were directly attributed to it, representing approximately 1 in 10 deaths. Each year, approximately 80 deaths are linked to passive smoking.
Consumption remains concerning: nearly a quarter of adults smoke, and among young people, habits are evolving rapidly. In one year, shisha consumption doubled (from 11% to 22%) and vaping increased from 21% to 36%.
Each cigarette contains over 4,000 toxic substances, including several carcinogens. Tobacco causes many serious diseases: cancers, cardiovascular diseases, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and exacerbates the life-threatening risk in case of viral infection like COVID-19.
Tobacco, a major aggravating factor in Luxembourg
Smoker's habits increase transmission risks
Smoking and COVID-19: to protect yourself is to quit smoking
The link between COVID-19 and smoking is now well established: smoking increases the risks of developing a severe, or even fatal, form of the disease. In this context, quitting smoking is a true public health priority. It is not only about protecting oneself individually, but also about reducing the pressure on the Luxembourg healthcare system, which was already heavily strained during the pandemic.
LaserOstop: a fast and effective solution to quit smoking
For rapid smoking cessation, without pain or weight gain, the laserOstop method® offers an innovative solution, effective from the first session. Based on photobiomodulation, this technique stimulates reflex points with a soft laser, reducing signals related to physical dependence.
In 2020, over 500,000 smokers quit thanks to this method. Since then, thousands more in Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain, France, and elsewhere have taken the step. The protocol is painless, without side effects, and suitable for all profiles, even during periods of stress or pandemic. Furthermore, the laserOstop® session is guaranteed for one year: if you resume smoking, you receive free additional support sessions to get back on the path to cessation.
Convinced that you deserve better health and better immunity against viruses? Our smoking cessation centres laserOstop® in Luxembourg welcome you in a secure and professional setting. Book your cessation session and act today for your health.
