ABSTRACT
COVID-19 is a newly defined pandemic agent. Exposure to cigarette smoke causes increased mucosal inflammation, expression of inflammatory cytokines, impaired mucociliary clearance, and excessive mucus production. Changes in the lungs due to smoking can directly affect the outcome of the disease. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between smoking and the clinical severity of COVID-19. The charts of the patients with positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests who received inpatient treatment in COVID-19 clinics between November 2020-April 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups smokers and non-smokers. We compared two groups' age, gender, laboratory parameters, mortality status, and disease severity. We included PCR proven 165 smokers and 351 non-smokers who needed hospitalization. The number of female patients was significantly lower in the smoker group (F/M: 33/132)( p < 0.001). The clinically severe patient rate was higher in the smoker group ( p = 0.005). Although the rate of mortality and patients who need ventilatory support were higher in the smoker group, the differences could not reach statistical significance. This study showed smokers had a more severe COVID-19 course than non-smokers, but the clinical outcome of severe/critical patients was not affected by the smoking status. Therefore, smokers should quit smoking urgently to be affected by the pandemic at a minimum level.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the attitudes of health care professionals involved within the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic process towards the COVID-19 vaccine in line with their demographic characteristics. Material(s) and Method(s): A questionnaire consisting of 16 questions was conducted to 510 healthcare professionals working in Inegol State Hospital between December 2021-January 2022 and who agreed to participate in the study, to determine their approach to the COVID-19 vaccine. The data were collected with Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U Test. Chi-square test was used in comparison of categorical variables. Result(s): While 54.3% of the respondents said that they don't want to have the COVID-19 vaccine, 69% answered that "Since there is not any adequate research on the vaccine, the vaccine is not reliable". Were observed that vaccine rejection was most common in the 20-29 age group (72.7%) and pregnant women (100%). In addition, as the education level increased, the number of people considering vaccination increased. The desire to be vaccinated was seen more in married, and it was noted that non-smokers had more COVID-19 (80.3%). Conclusion(s): Healthcare professionals who participated in study were found to have a negative attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine. Although healthcare professionals have hesitations about vaccine, in fact, noteworthy that they're afraid of the disease (43.8%). Despite of the pandemic, more than half (54.3%) of healthcare professionals working in Inegol State Hospital stated that they didn't think about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Providing hospital staff with more education about the safety, efficacy, and value of currently available COVID-19 vaccines is critical to vaccine acceptance in this population. Copyright © 2022 by Turkiye Klinikleri.