Nicotine dependence levels in pre and during pandemic and its correlations with COVID-19 phobia among healthy men during controlled social life: A sample of primary care population

Abstract

To the editor, Tobacco use an important cause of cardiovascular and lung diseases may exacerbate clinical manifestations of COVID-19. Recent evidences indicate that, increased clinical manifestations in COVID-19 patients with smoking compared to non-smokers resulted in intensive care treatment and mechanical ventilation.1-3 Smoking makes individuals prone to complications of COVID-19, due to decreased levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the host receptor of the virus.4 This situation draws attention to the men with two times higher smoking rates than women in Turkey.