Smoking Prevalence and COVID-19 in Europe.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

This ecological study investigates the association between smoking prevalence and COVID-19 occurrence and mortality in 38 European nations as of May 30, 2020.

Methods

Data were collected from Our World in Data. Regression analysis was conducted to adjust for potential confounding factors such as economic activity (gross domestic product), the rate of COVID-19 testing, and the stringency of COVID-19 control policies.

Results

There was a statistically significant negative association between smoking prevalence and the prevalence of COVID-19 across the 38 European nations after controlling for confounding factors (p = 0.001). A strong association was found between the prevalence of COVID-19 per million people and economic activity (p = 0.002) and the rate of

SUBMITTER: Tsigaris P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7337760 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature