Abstract
An admission to hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic seemingly provides a unique impetus for individuals to engage in a smoking cessation attempt; however the World Health Organisation has expressed concerns that conflicting media reports inferring a protective effect from cigarettes may be putting some smokers off trying to quit. At our University teaching hospital, serving an inner-city area of the North-West of England affected by both high rates of smoking attributable hospital admissions and COVID-19 cases, we compared engagement with cessation treatment for 9,917 all-cause hospital admissions with a self-reported smoking status immediately prior to and throughout the first wave of the pandemic [November 2019 through to June 2020].
During the peak of the first wave [March – April 2020] there was a significant increase in uptake of nicotine replacement therapy [OR 1.53 [1.22 to 1.92], p=0.0002], a pattern that was more pronounced in patients under 50 [OR 1.84 [1.24 to 2.72] p=0.0025]. During this time active smokers were underrepresented in our case load with a significantly lower rate of active smoking in swab positive cases (9.7% vs. 22.6%, Chi2 p<0.001).
Our data suggests that, despite reports in the lay and scientific press, during the initial wave of the Covid-19 crisis, smokers admitted to hospital were more likely to engage with a cessation attempt - making an admission at this time a highly teachable moment particularly for younger smokers. As we face subsequent waves of the pandemic we call on policy makers to properly fund smoking cessation services, including those based in hospitals, now more than ever.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, OA2581.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021