Smoking and COVID-19 outcomes: an observational and Mendelian randomisation study using the UK Biobank cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Conflicting evidence has emerged regarding the relevance of smoking on risk of COVID-19 and its severity.

Methods

We undertook large-scale observational and Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses using UK Biobank. Most recent smoking status was determined from primary care records (70.8%) and UK Biobank questionnaire data (29.2%). COVID-19 outcomes were derived from Public Health England SARS-CoV-2 testing data, hospital admissions data, and death certificates (until 18 August 2020). Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between smoking status and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19-related hospitalisation, and COVID-19-related death. Inverse variance-weighted MR analyses using established genetic instruments for smoking initiation and smoking

SUBMITTER: Clift AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8483921 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature