COVID-19 poses threat for smoking population
People affected most by COVID-19 include older populations and those with pre-existing health conditions, but research suggests that smokers are potentially at a greater risk of contracting and suffering from the virus.
As a baseline, smokers tend to be more compromised in lung functions compared to the general population. This compromise leads to a decreased ability of the lungs to respond to infections. Due to inflammation of the lung tissue from aerosols and cigarette smoke, there is a link to lower immune function and response, thus leading to potential development of chronic lung conditions.
The presence of these conditions, like those with pre-existing conditions, is related to greater risk of contracting of COVID-19 and subsequently, increased risk of damage and fatality.
A study in the Chinese Medical Journal notes that in a study of 78 patients with COVID-19, there was a 14 percent increase in the likelihood of developing pneumonia in patients with a history of smoking.
In an article by the Scientific American, researchers note that “… it therefore seems reasonable to assume that smoking—and possibly vaping—could increase the risk of developing a serious infection from the coronavirus.”
Scientific American further explained the risks of smoking: “Scientists at Chapel Hill have shown that e-cigarette use suppresses the activity of immune- and inflammatory-response genes in nasal cells—more so even than smoking. And a preprint study found that the gene that encodes the receptor ACE2, which the novel coronavirus uses to infect cells, is more active in smokers than nonsmokers.”
This data combined is not directly tied to increased COVID-19 infection, but rather greater risk of immune compromise, which has been linked to coronavirus infections.
“But given that smoking and vaping do well-established harm to the immune system, it seems prudent to assume they might make coronavirus infections worse,” wrote Tanya Lewis from Scientific American.
The smoking population includes those who smoke tobacco, marijuana and e-cigarettes. Also at risk for greater chance of infection includes those who abuse substances, including methamphetamine and opiates, CNN reported in an interview with Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Continued usage of opiates can lead to hypoxia, a drastic decrease of oxygen in the bloodstream. Methamphetamine usage also has an effect on lung function by constricting the blood vessels, which contributes to pulmonary damage.
In the same CNN article, they advised clinicians to “… be prepared to monitor the possible adverse effects of methamphetamine use, the prevalence of which is increasing in our country, when treating those with COVID-19.”
Because COVID-19 is known to attack the lungs, it is a serious threat to those with substance abuse disorders and those who smoke marijuana, tobacco and e-cigarettes.
External factors related to substance abuse disorders and smoking include homelessness, incarceration and lower income according to the National Institute for Drug Abuse. The effect of these factors include a greater risk of infection, transmission, lower recovery rates and subsequently a greater chance of fatality in these populations.
