New research uncovers correlation between smoking and Covid
According to new research from UC San Diego, smoking increases the likelihood for a person to develop severe Covid-19 symptoms that require hospitalisation and could potentially be fatal.
The study done under UCSD’s Rady school of Management and two Danish universities have seen cigarette sales among regular smokers decline between 20-30%. The number of those quitting smoking increased by 10% from March 2020-January 2021 in Denmark.
“The pandemic led to reductions in physical activity, increases in stress and declines in mental well-being, all factors commonly associated with triggering higher tobacco use - however, we find evidence of sustained decreases in smoking, which could be a bright spot in the pandemic,” corresponding study author of the study and Rady School associate professor of economics and strategy Sally Sadoff said.
“The health risks associated with COVID-19 and smoking may help some smokers overcome a key barrier to quitting - that the enjoyment of smoking is felt in the present and health costs are usually felt in the future.”
The paper, published in the journal Communications Medicine, has also found that dips in smoking were sustained for at least the first year of the pandemic and quitting rates lasted at least six months. These findings suggest COVID-19 may lead to a persistent decline in smoking.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey, the prevalence of daily smoking for Australians aged 18 and older in 2020-21 was 10.7%.
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