| Abstract [eng] |
Understanding the connections between COVID-19, smoking, and social and economic factors can help develop targeted public health strategies in Lithuania. This is crucial for reducing the pandemic's impact on different social and economic groups. The aim of the study was to identify the associations between the course of COVID-19 and smoking among various social-economic groups in Lithuania. Research objectives: 1)discuss COVID-19 risk factors, consequences, and interaction with social and economic factors. 2) analyze the associations between smoking and COVID-19. 3)assess the associations between the course of COVID-19 and smoking among different social-economic groups in Lithuania. Research methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted for the quantitative study. 323 participants took part in the survey. Respondents had the opportunity to indicate their social and economic group, whether they smoked, and if so, what method of smoking they used. Respondents marked answers regarding the course and symptoms of COVID-19 in the survey. Statistical analysis of the research data was performed using SPSS version 24.0. MS Excel 2010 was used for visualizing diagrams. Study Results: Half of the individuals who contracted COVID-19 were smokers, with men smoking more frequently as well as individuals with lower education levels, service sector employees, laborers/farmers, and those on parental leave. Among the smokers, older age and a longer history of smoking correlated with higher smoking intensity. Male smokers with COVID-19 more often experienced loss of smell and taste compared to non-smokers. The more frequently individuals were vaccinated against COVID-19, the more they agreed that smoking influences the course and severity of the illness. However, the longer or more intensively individuals smoked, the less likely they were to agree that smoking affects the severity of COVID-19. The more participants agreed that smoking impacts the course and severity of COVID-19, the more likely they were to consider quitting or had attempted to quit for this reason. Symptoms and frequency of hospitalization were not dependent on smoking history, the type of tobacco, or the intensity of smoking. Study Conclusions: The risk factors for COVID-19 include older age, gender, certain health conditions, and social and economic factors. Smoking significantly impacts the outcomes of COVID-19 by increasing the severity of symptoms and the risk of complications. However, this study did not find statistically significant evidence that smoking increases the risk of hospitalization or death. The pandemic had varied effects on smoking habits; some participants began smoking more frequently, while others reduced or completely quit smoking. Keywords: smoking; Covid-19 disease; smoking and Covid-19 disease associations; Covid-19 disease risk factors. |
