A recent study at a major Paris hospital highlights that a substance in tobacco – potentially nicotine – may prevent smokers from catching Covid-19. Clinical trials of nicotine patches are awaiting the approval of the country’s health authorities.
Whilst nicotine may protect smokers from the virus, but those who have caught it often develop more serious symptoms because of the toxic effect of tobacco smoke on the lungs. These findings are to be verified in a clinical study across France in which frontline health workers, hospital patients with Covid-19 virus and those in intensive care will be given nicotine patches.
The study has also indicated that nicotine could prevent the immune system going into overdrive due to the infection, as has been seen among some of the worst-affected cases.
However, researchers have emphasised that people should not start smoking, pointing out it kills half of those who start.
Responding to the study, Public Health England said, "Smoking tobacco is known to damage the lungs and airways causing a range of severe respiratory problems. The evidence clearly shows Covid-19 virus attacks the respiratory system, which explains why smokers are at greater risk. A small but highly impactful survey from China finds that smokers with Covid-19 are 14 times more likely to develop severe disease."
