COVID-19 and Tobacco Products Use Among US Adults, 2021 National Health Interview Survey

Overview

Journal Health Sci Rep

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2023 Sep 4

PMID 37662541

Authors

Mohammad Ebrahimi Kalan

Rime Jebai

Wei Li

Prem Gautam

Seyedeh Yasaman Alemohammad

Zeinab Mortazavizadeh

D Ward Kenneth

Aditya Chakraborty

Ghader Dargahi Abbasabad

Raed Behaleh

Zoran Bursac

Ziyad Ben Taleb

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Smoking and vaping are linked to lung inflammation and lowered immune response.

Objective: Examine the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, testing, symptoms, and vaccine uptake, and associations with tobacco product use.

Methods: Data came from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey. The 2021 Sample Adult component included 29,482 participants with a response rate of 50.9%. We investigated COVID-19-related outcomes by tobacco product use status and reported national estimates. Multivariable regression models were performed accounting for demographics (e.g., age, sex, poverty level), serious psychological distress, disability, and chronic health conditions.

Results: In our regression analyses, odds of self-reported COVID-19 infection were significantly lower for combustible tobacco product users (vs. nonusers; adjusted odds ratio [AOR = 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.62-0.85]). Combustible tobacco users also were less likely to report ever testing for COVID-19 (AOR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.79-0.98), ever testing positive for COVID-19 (AOR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.56-0.77), and ever receiving COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.51-0.66) compared with their nonuser peers. Compared to nonusers, users of any type of tobacco who contracted COVID-19 had higher odds of losing smell (AOR = 1.36; 95%CI = 1.04-1.77), which was more pronounced among exclusive e-cigarette users. The odds of receiving vaccine were lower for all current exclusive tobacco product users compared to nonusers (AORs = 0.40 to 0.70).

Conclusions: Continued monitoring of tobacco product use and its association with respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 is crucial to inform public health policies and programs. In addition, efforts to promote vaccination, especially among tobacco product users, are warranted.

Citing Articles

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Population-Based Disease Odds for E-Cigarettes and Dual Use versus Cigarettes.

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COVID-19 and tobacco products use among US adults, 2021 National Health Interview Survey.

Ebrahimi Kalan M, Jebai R, Li W, Gautam P, Alemohammad S, Mortazavizadeh Z Health Sci Rep. 2023; 6(9):e1542.

PMID: 37662541 PMC: 10469725. DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1542.

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