Association of combustible cigarettes and heated tobacco products use with SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 in Japan: a JASTIS 2022 cross-sectional study

• Published in: Scientific reports 2023-02, Vol.13 (1), p.1120-12, Article 1120
• Main Authors: Nishimura, Misako, Asai, Kazuhisa, Tabuchi, Takahiro, Toyokura, Erika, Kawai, Takahiro, Miyamoto, Atsushi, Watanabe, Tetsuya, Kawaguchi, Tomoya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/499; 692/699/255/2514; 692/700/478/174; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cigarettes; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Infections; Japan - epidemiology; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tobacco; Tobacco Products - adverse effects; Tobacco Use; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28006-3

Insufficient evidence has been accumulated regarding associations of heated tobacco products (HTPs) use with coronavirus infection and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an ongoing pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from an internet questionnaire administered in February 2022 to 30,130 individuals from the general Japanese population (age range, 16–81 years). Single users of HTPs and dual users of combustible cigarettes and HTPs comprised 5.2% and 7.3% of respondents, and 6.7% and 38.0% of those infected (n = 1117). Approximately 70% of infected dual users experienced severe disease. Single users of HTPs and dual users were more likely to be infected with coronavirus than never-users (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.65/4.66; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26–2.15/3.89–5.58). Regarding severity, former and current tobacco users (former/combustible cigarettes/HTPs: aOR = 1.88/3.17/1.90; 95%CI 1.11–3.19/1.77–5.67/1.01–3.59) were more likely to be administered oxygen than never-users, and dual users required oxygen administration the most (aOR = 4.15, 95%CI 2.70–6.36). Use of HTPs may increase risks of coronavirus infection and severe COVID-19. Our results provide an opportunity to consider the safety of tobacco products use, including HTPs, during the COVID-19 pandemic.