TOPLINE
Teens and young adults who smoke and vape are five to seven times more likely to contract the novel coronavirus than their tobacco-adverse counterparts, according to a Stanford University study that sheds new light on the dangers of indulging in common vices during the pandemic.
“Bottom line, if you use e-cigarettes and cigarettes, you are so much more likely to be diagnosed ... [+]
KEY FACTS
The study, published Tuesday in the Journal of Adolescent Health, measured the link between the tobacco use and virus contraction rates of young people aged 13 to 24.
Those who reported smoking and vaping within the past month were most at risk, with 6% testing positive for coronavirus, versus just 1% of non-users.
The next most at-risk group were those who vaped exclusively—vaping damages users’ lungs, making them more susceptible to develop Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.
“Bottom line, if you use e-cigarettes and cigarettes, you are so much more likely to be diagnosed with Covid,” said the paper’s senior author Bonnie Halpern-Flesher.
Additionally, young people who used cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the past 30 days were five times more likely to display Covid-19 symptoms, generally more common in adults.
But, notably, the survey’s 4,350 responses did not show a connection between smoking conventional cigarettes and increased Covid-19 risk, which researchers hypothesized could be due to few young people using cigarettes exclusively (most responders used both vaping devices and cigarettes).
Crucial Quote
“We hope that the findings will encourage adolescents and young adults to never start vaping, and if [they are] vaping, to stop,” Halpern-Felsher said. “The data is just another set of findings showing that vaping and smoking can put your lungs in harm’s way.”
Big Number
5.4 million. The number of middle and high school students using e-cigarettes in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control, an increase of 1.8 million from the year before.
Key Background
Public health officials have become increasingly concerned about teen and young adult usage of e-cigarettes, labeling it as an epidemic. At the start of the year, the Food and Drug Administration moved to ban flavored vaping products, which some cited as responsible for the surge in young usership over the past few years. However, a high number of young people continue to vape.
Surprising Fact
Researchers looking into the impacts of tobacco use on Covid-19 have struggled to link cigarettes with increased susceptibility to the disease. In fact, observational studies found only a small fraction of those hospitalized were smokers. Nonetheless, the World Health Organization clearly warns that smoking increases the likelihood of more severe disease or death.
Further Reading
“Vaping Increases Covid-19 Risk For Teens And Young Adults” (Forbes)
“Stanford study links vaping with heightened risk of COVID-19” (The Stanford Daily)
