Smoking and COVID 19 infection: What impact?

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Since the rise of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, several predictive factors of the severity of the infection have been described in the literature. However, the relationship between tobacco and COVID 19 remains controversial. <bold>Methods:</bold> This is a retrospective comparative study including adults with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia who were hospitalized. The patients were divided into 2 groups: G1 (n= 25) including active or former smokers and G2 (n=225) including patients who have never smoked. <bold>Results:</bold> Our study included 250 patients. The prevalence of smoking among patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia was 10 % (n=25). No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding following comorbidities: high blood pressure, diabetes and dyslipidemia. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease was more common among smokers (G1: 12.7%, G2: 2.6%; p=0.00). Biologically, blood urea figures were higher in smokers (G1: 14.59 ± 16.6 mmol/l, G2: 11.7 ± 10 mmol/l; p = 0.03) in relation to a functional renal failure. Radiological damage was mild (G1: 6.3%; G2: 4.7%), moderate (G1: 51.3%, G2: 53%) and severe (G1: 42.3%; G2: 42.3%) (p= 0.66). The evolution was more favorable in non-smokers (82.2%) compared to smokers (76.8%) (p=0.03). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> We found that smokers had a greater risk of transfer to intensive care and death compared to non-smokers infected with SARS-CoV-2.