In July last twelvemonth , a paper hint something quite counterintuitive : that smokers might be less at peril of contract COVID-19 , and less likely to suffer severe outcomes from the disease if they contracted it .
" Current smokers were 23 % less probable to be name with COVID-19 equate to non - smoker , " the studypublished in the European Respiratory Journalread . " Of all COVID-19 patient , 34.8 % were hospitalized and 13.0 % experience an adverse event . manly gender , older age , having one or more comorbidities , and chronic renal disease , diabetes , obesity , COPD , immunosuppression and high blood pressure were associated with hospitalization and contrary outcome . Current smoking was not associated with adverse issue . "
The other view paper was picked up by several big word outlets , but has now beenretracted by the journalafter the editors were informed of links between two of the sketch ’s authors and the tobacco industry .
When the paper was published , the authors declared that they hadno contend interests . However , in theretraction card , the European Respiratory Journal note that they had failed to reveal that " one of the authors ( José M. Mier ) at the sentence had a current and on-going role in providing consultancy to the tobacco manufacture on tobacco harm decrease ; and another ( Konstantinos Poulas ) at the sentence was a principal investigator for the Grecian NGO NOSMOKE,“they write . " A science and innovation hub that has receive financial support from the Foundation for a Smoke Free World ( an system funded by the tobacco industry ) . "
The journal ’s editor went on to state that there were n’t question of scientific misconduct , but felt they should recall the paper given the sensitive subject topic presented and the nature of the undisclosed relationship involve .
The finding of the paper are at odds with further studies , which have found that smokers may experience awider range of COVID-19 symptomsand be more potential to attend hospitals than non - smoker . In a review article of the topic forBMJ Evidence - ground Medicinein August 2020 , the authors conclude that there was n’t enough grounds to generalize a protective effect of smoking , adding :
" Claims that smoking is protective in COVID-19 can be detrimental to public health and should be viewed with extreme caution by both the general population as well as clinician . Even if smoking did offer a protective upshot in COVID-19 , this is improbable to outbalance the numerous prove inauspicious wellness effects of smoke . "
The corresponding writer of the now - retract paper – Konstantinos Farsalinos – recite Retraction Watchthat " the talk about engagement were irrelevant to the study ’s main aims and object glass " , and that that he had offered to release the full dataset and statistical book so that the solvent could be severally swear .
" I disagree with the abjuration and I consider it unjust and uncorroborated , " he add . " I fully support the accuracy of all analysis and content , and we will submit the same manuscript to another diary . "
