Smoking and vaping can make Covid-19 symptoms worse

A comparative study links the harmful effects of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and shisha. All three are harmful, and all three are likely to worsen symptoms caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Scientists are gradually drawing up the profiles most at risk in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Smokers are concerned, since smoking is known to promote and worsen respiratory problems or infections. This is what the World Health Organization recalled on May 11, 2020: ” COVID-19 is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. Smoking weakens lung function, making the body less resistant to coronaviruses and other pathogens. »

A comparative study published on June 25, 2020 in European Heart Journal again presses on these specific risks. Originally, this study was above all the first to compare the dangers of three different modes of smoking and vaping: the classic cigarette with tobacco, the electronic cigarette and shisha. By synthesizing all of the serious studies on the subject, these researchers draw up a panorama of the question.

They thus deliver a gravity scale between these three ways of smoking. The following percentages correspond to the increased risks compared to a non-smoking person:

• Risks of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: tobacco cigarettes increase the risk by 704%, shisha by 208%, and electronic cigarettes by 194%.
• Risks of lung cancer: tobacco cigarettes increase the risk by 1,210% and shisha by 122%. The data being too fragmented for electronic cigarettes on this specific risk, it was not possible to derive a figure.
• Risks of stiffening of the arteries (source of heart problems and strokes): 10% for tobacco cigarettes, 9% for shisha and 7% for electronic cigarettes.

Increased risks during the Covid-19 period

These three forms of smoking and vaping therefore have in common to increase the risks anyway. They all contain toxic products known to damage cells, including electronic cigarettes – they contain formaldehyde, acrolein, transition metal and volatile organic compounds.

In addition to chemicals that damage the body, these three ways of smoking cause overproduction of reactive oxygen derivatives, such as superoxide, in the tissues of blood vessels. This blockbuster prevents the endothelium (layer of cells within the blood vessels) from producing nitric oxide. However, this compound plays an essential role: preventing inflammation and blockage of the arteries.

“Tobacco cigarettes, shisha and electronic cigarettes can help increase the burden of symptoms”

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus precisely attacks the body by causing inflammation. What is more, it uses the ACE2 cellular receptor, which is expressed in several organs, such as the kidney, lungs, heart … but also through endothelial cells, therefore those linked to the endothelium. However, smoking and vaping damage the endothelium. Smokers and vapers are therefore more prone to cardiovascular problems if they are infected with the coronavirus.

More generally, smoking and vaping weaken the body: the symptoms as a whole are more difficult to fight by the body, which more easily gives rise to hospitalization in intensive care or the use of artificial ventilation. ” Tobacco cigarettes, shisha and electronic cigarettes can increase the burden of symptoms caused by Covid-19 disease and the serious health consequences Write the authors of this comparative study.

The case of nicotine

In March, a French study conducted at Pitié-Salpêtrière raised the observation that there is a low proportion of smokers among the patients of Covid-19. The authors then wondered if nicotine could not generate a protective effect. This potential which has given rise to new research on the links between nicotine and coronavirus.

On the subject, the position of the World Health Organization is to encourage ” researchers, scientists and the media should be cautious not to pass on unsupported claims that tobacco or nicotine may reduce the risk of COVID-19. There is currently insufficient information to confirm any link between tobacco or nicotine and the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. »

Several limits arise for the moment on this alleged protective effect. First, it is nicotine, and therefore smoking: researchers don’t invite smoking to protect themselves. There is evidence that this act causes more danger than benefit. Then, even if nicotine finally has a proven protective effect before infection, it would not change the harmful effects of smoking and vaping. after infection, since smoking and vaping will have damaged the body anyway.