COPD and current smokers are at greater risk of severe complications and higher mortality rate of COVID-19 infection

Objectives:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an evolving infectious disease that dramatically spread all over the world in the early part of 2020. No studies have yet summarized the potential severity and mortality risks caused by COVID-19 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and those with smoking history. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Are COPD and smoking status associated with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection?

Study design:
This review article included 15 studies with a total of 2,473 confirmed COVID-19 patients.

Results and conclusions:   
The investigators found the crude case fatality rate of COVID-19 was 7.4%.

The investigators found the pooled prevalence rates of COPD patients and smokers in COVID-19 cases were 2% [95% CI = 1% to 3%, I2 = 41.90%, p = 0.04] and 9% [95% CI = 4% to 14%, I2 = 92.49%, p = 0.00] respectively.

The investigators found COPD patients were at a higher risk of more severe disease [risk of severity = 63%, (22/35)] compared to patients without COPD [risk of severity = 33.4%, (409/1224)].

The investigators found COPD patients had a significantly higher risk of 88% [calculated RR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.4 to 2.4] to get severe COVID-2019 infection compared to patients without COPD.
This was associated with higher mortality (60%).

The investigators found current smokers had a significantly higher risk of 45% [calculated RR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.03 to 2.04] to get severe COVID-2019 infection compared to former and never smokers patients.
A higher mortality rate of 38.5% was also seen among current smokers.

The investigators concluded COVID-19 infection is associated with substantial severity and mortality rates in COPD. Compared to former and never smokers, current smokers are at greater risk of severe complications and higher mortality rate. Effective preventive measures are required to reduce COVID-19 risk in COPD patients and current smokers.

Original title:
Prevalence, Severity and Mortality associated with COPD and Smoking in patients with COVID-19: A Rapid Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by Alqahtani JS, Oyelade T, […], Hurst JR.

Link:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0233147

Additional information of El Mondo:
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