Tobacco use profile among COVID-19 infected adults and clinical disease spectrum in Qatar during the early pandemic

Abstract

Objective: To describe the tobacco use profile among COVID-19-infected adult smokers, to assess the nicotine addiction level, and its impact on the disease progression and outcome in Qatar during the early pandemic. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted between May 2020 and May 2021. Setting: Electronic medical records from Qatar’s National Health Information System under the Communicable Disease Center. Participants: All confirmed COVID-19-infected adults who could communicate in English and Arabic were randomly selected and invited to participate in a telephone survey. Result: Among 576 subjects, 118 (20.48%) had a smoking history, with 76.3% being current tobacco smokers and 23.7% former smokers. Current smokers were predominantly male (93.3%), single (51.1%), and highly educated (80%). Cigarette smoking was prevalent among 66.4% of current smokers, with 49.3% smoking ten or fewer cigarettes daily and 71% having low nicotine dependence. In addition, many cigarette users smoked more than one tobacco product during the pandemic. Among COVID-19-infected smokers, 75.6% were symptomatic, and highly nicotine-addicted individuals experienced more hospitalizations, including ICU admissions, with all deaths occurring in this group. Conclusion: This research concludes that deaths and poor health outcomes were more frequent among COVID-19-infected smokers. Prioritizing smokers for vaccination and promoting cessation is critical.