COVID-19 & Tobacco Use

Some of these conclusions could not be supported by data, leading to public health inquiries focused on the following questions:

• Does smoking or vaping change the risk of contracting the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus?
• Does smoking or vaping create underlying vulnerabilities (e.g. pre-existing lung conditions) or resilience that make the disease more serious or lethal or less serious for those who do contract it?
• Does smoking or vaping change the way the disease is transmitted from person to person - does smoking or vaping make people more or less infectious?
• Does switching from smoking to vaping, or quitting completely, change the profile of the risks to the individual?

Answers to those questions will provide critical evidence necessary to inform policies and guide appropriate communications to current tobacco users.

We have identified approximately 280 publicly available studies on COVID-19 hospitalizations where smoking status is available to help address some of these questions.

Information updated as of 12/18/20. COVID-19 science is rapidly developing. Study conclusions may be limited due to non-peer reviewed status or limited sample size.