TY - JOUR T1 - Does Covid-19 affects smokers differently ? JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.PA3212 VL - 58 IS - suppl 65 SP - PA3212 AU - Mariem Ferchichi AU - Ikbel Khalfallah AU - Sabrine Louhaichi AU - Nouha Boubaker AU - Jamel Ammar AU - Basma Hamdi AU - Agnes Hamzaoui Y1 - 2021/09/05 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA3212.abstract N2 - Data from the previous Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS) and severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS)  reported  increased risk of severe disease and mortality in smokers with coronavirus. For COVID-19, data are controversialTo determine the impact of smoking on COVID‐19 severity and mortalityA retrospective study including all patients admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia between March 2020 and January 2021 in the pulmonary department B at Abderrahman Mami Hospital. We compared the demographic, clinical, biological and radiological characteristics and outcomes of 2 groups:G1:former or current smokers;G2:non smokersA total of 200 patients were enrolled in our study. The mean age was 64,9±13,5 [22– 98] years and 65% were men. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (46%), diabetes mellitus(40%) and obesity(32%). Half of the patients had a smoking history:43 Current smokers, 52 former smokers. The majority of G1 patients were male (84% vs 6% ;p=0.001). Smokers had an increased risk of severe Covid-19 (RR:1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.14‐2.85;P = 0.012). Fifty one (53%) experienced disease progression compared with 12 (12%) of non smoking patients(RR : 1,5 ; IC : 1.21-7.51 ;p=0,02). Patients with a smoking history had a significantly increased risk of in‐hospital mortality (RR: 1.26; CI: 1.20‐1.32;P < .0001), and need for mechanical ventilation (RR:1.20;CI: 1.01‐1.42;P = 0.043). No differences were found between the 2 groups regarding the age, comobidities, biological inflamatory marquers (Ddimer, Fibrogen, C-reactive protein, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio) and extend of radiological damage)Smoking is a risk factor for severe COVID‐19, disease progression, mortality, and mechanical ventilationFootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA3212.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). ER -