Smoking and quitting behavior of hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Objective: The relationship between Covid-19 and smoking is controversial. In this study, our aim was to determine the association between smoking and hospitalization duration and to demonstrate how smoking habits change following COVID-19 disease. Methods: This prospective cohort study conducted on patients hospitalized at pandemic services of a university hospital between 01.10.2020-30.11.2020. Sociodemographic variables and smoking habits were assessed through a face-to-face interview. Individuals who were still smoking were contacted by phone six months after discharge, and their smoking habits were re-evaluated. Results: Total of 373 patients were included in the study with average age of 63.0±15.0.and 175 (%46.9) were female. Of the participants, 192 (51.5%) had never smoked, 148 (39.7%) had quit smoking, and 33 (8.8%) were still smokers. Length of hospitalization of smokers, never-smokers and quitters were not statistically different. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of worsening status be-tween smokers, ex-smokers and never smokers. Of the total 33 current smoker, 10 (33.3%) quit smoking and did not start again, 13 (43.3%) quit smoking but started again, and 7 (23.3%) did not quit smoking at the follow up. Conclusion: In our study, it was observed that smoking did not affect the course of COVID-19 disease and length of stay. Also, history COVID-19 can affect smoking habits and may lead to smoking cessation.