Smokers Appear Less Likely to Be Hospitalised with COVID-19.

Bretibart: Study: Smokers Appear Less Likely to Be Hospitalised with COVID-19.

    Smoking increases susceptibility to respiratory infections and media reports suggest that it may increase the risk of being infected with acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 is known to use the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor for cell entry, and there is evidence that smoking down-regulates ACE2 expression in the lung and other tissues.

Their findings, though surprising, appear to be supported by the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These too show that – contrary to expectations – relatively few smokers and ex-smokers have been hospitalised with COVID-19.

    CDC is gathering information about underlying conditions and Covid-19 diagnoses. Smoking status numbers are *very* interesting.https://t.co/iv0FpfPSHy pic.twitter.com/5ojmWcpu91

    — Phil (@phil_w888) March 31, 2020

I knew smoking would have an upside.