A study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, supported by the NHLBI, found that smoking patterns changed among current and former smokers during the pandemic. To generate this data, researchers reached out to more than 1,000 adults who were hospitalized before the pandemic and enrolled in a smoking-cessation study. Since patients can’t smoke in the hospital, smoking cessation programs allow many to avoid tobacco as they return home.
Based on 694 current and former smokers who responded to the survey, researchers found that among adults who smoked in January 2020, about four in 10 cut back or quit by May-July 2020. Three in 10 smoked more. One in four who had quit smoking before the pandemic started again. Two central themes emerged: 1. Since smoking increases the risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, many smokers were motivated by health reasons to quit smoking or smoke less; 2. Stress contributed to increased tobacco use among many current and former smokers.
The authors note this information, which included geographical breakdowns and additional reasons people quit smoking or smoked more, could guide public health outreach. For example, among the nation’s 34 million smokers, more than half attempt to quit each year. And among current smokers, a little less than half have a chronic condition related to smoking. The researchers note outreach efforts could focus on patient and public education about smoking as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 cases. Free smoking cessation resources – including treatment, text messages, and telephone lines – could pair with this type of support.