PUTRAJAYA – Smokers who contract Covid-19 are at risk of developing severe complications such as liver and kidney failure as well as acute respiratory distress syndrome, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
He said the data was obtained through a study by the Health Ministry involving 5,889 Covid-19 patients treated nationwide from February 1 to May 31 last year.
Of the 5,889 patients, 791 were smokers (773 men and 18 women) with the majority aged 30 and above, he said.
“The findings show that smokers are almost twice as likely to develop severe complications than non-smokers,” he told a press conference here today.
The study is a collaboration between the International Islamic University Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and the Health Ministry through its disease control division, medical development division, and the National Institutes of Health.
Dr Noor Azmi said the findings were in line with the June 30, 2020 scientific brief by the World Health Organisation on smoking and Covid-19.
Meanwhile, ministry tobacco control sector head Dr Nor Aryana Hassan said the 791 smokers already had chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure (16.7%), diabetes (12.3%), heart problems (5.2%), and chronic lung conditions (1.1%).
The study also showed that 14.2% of smokers were Covid-19 category three patients who had lung infections but did not need respiratory assistance; 4.4% were category four patients who had lung infections and needed respiratory support, while 1.6% were category five or critical patients.
Earlier, Dr Noor Azmi launched the phase three of the mQuit smoking cessation service through the newly improved website jomquit.com. – Bernama, April 28, 2021
