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. 2021 Aug 19;42(8):1009-1022.
doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgab061.

COVID-19: a pandemic converged with global tobacco epidemic and widespread vaping-state of the evidence

Ahmad Besaratinia  1
Affiliations

COVID-19: a pandemic converged with global tobacco epidemic and widespread vaping-state of the evidence

Ahmad Besaratinia. Carcinogenesis. .

Abstract

This review highlights the convergence of three global health challenges at a crossroad where the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) meets the tobacco epidemic and vaping. It begins with an overview of the current knowledge on the biology, pathophysiology and epidemiology of COVID-19. It then presents the state of smoking and vaping during the pandemic by summarizing the published data on prevalence, use patterns, product availability/accessibility, sales records and motivation to quit before and after the start of the pandemic. It highlights the state of evidence on the association of tobacco product use with COVID-19 infection and transmission rates, symptom severity and clinical outcomes. Also discussed are proposed biological mechanisms and behavioral factors that may modulate COVID-19 risk in tobacco product users. Furthermore, competing hypotheses on the protective effect of nicotine against COVID-19 as well as the claimed 'smokers' paradox' are discussed. Considerations and challenges of COVID-19 vaccination in tobacco product users are underscored. Collectively, the present data show an 'incomplete' but rapidly shaping picture on the association of tobacco product use and COVID-19 infection, disease course and clinical outcomes. Evidence is also growing on the mechanisms by which tobacco product use may contribute to COVID-19 pathophysiology. Although we await definitive conclusions on the relative risk of COVID-19 infection in tobacco product users, compelling data confirm that many comorbidities associated with/caused by smoking predispose to COVID-19 infection, severe disease and poor prognosis. Additionally, it is becoming increasing clear that should smokers get the disease, they are more likely to have serious health consequences.

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Figures

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Graphical abstract
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The interplay of tobacco product use and COVID-19. Arrows indicate that comorbidities shown within circles are associated with tobacco product use (smoking). These comorbidities include COPD, cancer, CVD, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. The overlapping of ‘comorbidities’ with ‘COVID-19 risk and disease course and clinical outcomes’ represents ‘association’, not ‘causality’.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Schematic diagram of SARS-CoV-2 lifecycle and host cell infection. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 receptors in host cells (i.e. attachment). The proteolytic function of transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2) cleaves the spike protein (i.e. activation), thus allowing entry and viral replication in the host cell, and subsequent release of the infectious virus into the intercellular milieu. This is a simplified diagram of the highly complex life cycle of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19; interested readers are referred to elegant references (12,40) for detailed information.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. US Department of Health and Human Services (2018) Surgeon General’s Advisory on E-Cigarette Use Among Youth. https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/documents/surgeon-generals-advis... (18 June 2021, date last accessed).
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    1. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2018) FDA Takes New Steps to Address Epidemic of Youth E-Cigarette Use, Including a Historic Action Against More Than 1,300 Retailers and 5 Major Manufacturers for Their Roles Perpetuating Youth Access. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-new-steps-... (11 September 2018, date last accessed).
    1. Cucinotta, D., et al. (2020) WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic. Acta Biomed., 91, 157–160. - PMC - PubMed

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