5 ms·

Smokers were never protected from Covid

• NullPrefix 5y ago
  >Compared with never-smokers, current smokers had higher risks of hospitalisation (...) and mortality Is there any data regarding smoke-quitters?
• lolsal 5y ago
  The article doesn't seem to specify any difference between plain tobacco, consumer cigarette, or marijuana smokers. The [linked study](https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2021/09/12/thoraxjnl-2021-217080 https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2021/09/12/thoraxjnl-20...) doesn't seem to clarify, either. I'm curious if there is a difference between the three.
  • ddek 5y ago
    It's consumer cigarettes, almost entirely. It's a UK study. The question would have been "What is your smoking history?". In the most basic case, there would be three options: "Never smoked", "Historically, but quit", "Active smoker". More advanced surveys would have examined the volume of smoking and how long ago you quit. Marijuana is illegal in the UK, and the NHS does not typically ask questions about current drug use. Occasionally they will ask for drug use history, but the question "Do you currently smoke marijuana?" will simply not be in the vocabulary of the average doctor. There aren't really any appropriate stratifications for UK tobacco smokers. Almost everyone who smokes uses either packaged cigarettes or self rolled. This division is strongly correlated with income. The self-rolled crowd always use filters.
    • ChrisRR 5y ago
      The NHS does ask for current drug use if it's appropriate. I've definitely recently been asked when taking medication if I'm taking any illegal drugs. If there's a risk of interaction with the medication, they'll ask
      • ddek 5y ago
        Yes, but the question is about recent drug use, rather than whether you are an active user. Obviously active use implies recent use, but not vice versa. They wouldn't ask if you use a specific drug, outside alcohol and tobacco.