Despite having numerous negative health consequences, the epidemiological relationship between cigarette smoking and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is controversial.
Now, a new study published on the bioRxiv* preprint server investigates this relationship further and suggests that current smoking is not associated with a higher incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Background
Comorbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, are associated with severe COVID-19. Separately, there is ample evidence of smoking leading to adverse health conditions like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic respiratory illness.
