ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Tobacco use has changed since the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The effect of smoking on COVID-19 susceptibility has not yet been determined. In this study, we aimed to assess the association between smoking and COVID-19 susceptibility. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study was conducted at the quarantine center of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, between April and June 2020. A total of 142 adults participated in the study, 73 of whom tested positive for COVID-19 and were matched for both sex and age with participants in the control group. Telephone interviews were conducted to assess the risk factors associated with that exposure. RESULTS: Different variables are investigated for their impact on COVID-19 infection susceptibility. The current study's findings indicated that smokers comprised only 27.5% (n=39) of the participants. There was no association between the COVID-19 swab results and smoking status (χ2=1.857; p=0.395). Furthermore, there was no significant association between any of the smoking parameters and susceptibility to COVID-19, except for the smoking period (t= -2.105, p=0.041). The odds of having a positive swab result among cigarette smokers were lower than those among pipe, waterpipe, and electronic cigarette smokers (OR=0.600; p=0.394). An association was also observed between COVID-19-positive swab results and contact with an individual with COVID-19 or respiratory disease (χ2=79.270 and χ2=18.929, respectively, p≤0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed no association between smoking status and COVID-19 swab test results. Further research with a bigger sample size is suggested to confirm the relationship between smoking and COVID-19 susceptibility.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Tobacco use has changed since the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The effect of smoking on COVID-19 susceptibility has not yet been determined. In this study, we aimed to assess the association between smoking and COVID-19 susceptibility. METHODS This retrospective case-control study was conducted at the quarantine center of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, between April and June 2020. A total of 142 adults participated in the study, 73 of whom tested positive for COVID-19 and were matched for both sex and age with participants in the control group. Telephone interviews were conducted to assess the risk factors associated with that exposure. RESULTS Different variables are investigated for their impact on COVID-19 infection susceptibility. The current study's findings indicated that smokers comprised only 27.5% (n=39) of the participants. There was no association between the COVID-19 swab results and smoking status (χ2=1.857;p=0.395). Furthermore, there was no significant association between any of the smoking parameters and susceptibility to COVID-19, except for the smoking period (t= -2.105, p=0.041). The odds of having a positive swab result among cigarette smokers were lower than those among pipe, waterpipe, and electronic cigarette smokers (OR=0.600;p=0.394). An association was also observed between COVID-19-positive swab results and contact with an individual with COVID-19 or respiratory disease (χ2=79.270 and χ2=18.929, respectively, p≤0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study revealed no association between smoking status and COVID-19 swab test results. Further research with a bigger sample size is suggested to confirm the relationship between smoking and COVID-19 susceptibility.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Physical activity is a known preventive measure for many worldwide public health issues. The purpose of this study is to assess the association between physical activity and the susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective matched case-control study involving adult participants quarantined with IAU, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The total randomized sample of study participants were 142, in which 73 of them were tested positive for COVID-19 test and matched for both age and sex with their respective healthy controls who tested negative for COVID-19 test to determine the risk associated with that exposure. RESULTS: Several variables are assessed regarding their influence on the susceptibility of COVID-19 infection. Exactly half indicated that they were physically active (n = 71). Physical activity did not show any significant association with COVID-19 contraction (x 2= 0.254, P= 0.614) nor self-rated level of physical activity (x 2= 0.122, P= 0.727). Less than half of the participants who had contact with a COVID-19 patient within 14 days of admission to quarantine appeared to have a significantly higher incidence of positive COVID-19 swab results compared to those who did not (x 2= 27.121, P= <0.001). While third of the participants who indicated that they have had a contact with someone who have Respiratory symptoms or fever within 14 days before admission were tested positive for COVID-19. Participants with lower educational degrees are more likely to be infected with COVID-19. While the rest of the demographic variables appear to be not significantly related to the likelihood of being COVID-19 infected, these include gender, marital status, employment status, age, and BMI. CONCLUSION: The present study showed no significant association between physical activity and susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. We recommend a larger sample size to further clarify the relationship between other variables and susceptibility of COVID-19.