WHO says smokers run risk of COVID-19 complications

Smoking increases the risk of complications or death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the World Health Organization (WHO) experts noted.

According to Economictimes, experts analyzed data from 34 published studies investigating the links between smoking and COVID-19.

Nearly 18% of COVID-19 hospitalized patients are smokers.

In April, French scientists claimed that smokers are less likely to catch COVID-19, but these data have been criticized and refuted by many other scientists.

According to the latest WHO data, smoking is still linked to an increased risk of developing COVID-19 complications. It also increases the risk of death in the hospitalized patients, that is why WHO experts recommend giving up smoking.