The impact of smoking on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality

Abstract

Many articles by foreign authors, published in scientific journals with a stable international reputation, contain claims that smoking tobacco reduces the likelihood of infection with SARS-CoV-2. To study this issue, a correlation analysis was carried out to assess the dependence between the proportion of women and men who smoke in 94 countries located in Eurasia, North and South America, Australia, where more than 64 % of the world’s population lives, and the incidence and mortality of the population from COVID-19 during the period from February 1 to November 21, 2021. The results showed that an increase in the proportion of the population who smokes is always accompanied by an increase in morbidity and mortality among the world’s population. This tendency is especially pronounced in Europe, the USA and Canada, with the most detrimental effect of smoking on the growth of mortality. The results obtained allow us to reject with a high degree of confidence the conclusions about the protective effect of smoking from infection with SARS-CoV-2 and provide the media, medical, educational and educational institutions with additional arguments for informing the population about the negative consequences of smoking, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.