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Abstract
Background: Smoking has been associated with changes in hematological parameters and heightened susceptibility to COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. It is still unclear how smoking affects blood cell indices in COVID-19 patients especially in regional populations. The purpose of this study was to compare the hematological profiles of COVID-19-positive patients from Larkana who smoked and those who did not.
Methodology: Between March and June of 2020 LINAR Hospital in Larkana carried out a cross-sectional comparative study. There were 50 smokers and 50 non-smokers among the 100 confirmed COVID-19 patients between the ages of 20 and 50. Written informed consent was given by eligible participants. Non-smokers had never smoked whereas smokers had been active cigarette smokers for at least six months. Patients with major chronic illnesses hematological disorders recent infections pregnancy or medications that affected blood indices were not included.
Results: 50 smokers and 50 non-smokers with similar baseline demographics participated in the study. The most prevalent symptom in both groups was fever which was followed by exhaustion and a dry cough. Breathlessness tightness in the chest and low oxygen saturation were among the respiratory symptoms and complications that smokers experienced more frequently. Smokers had higher mean RBC count hemoglobin WBC count and platelet levels than non-smokers according to hematological analysis suggesting that smoking COVID-19 patients had a comparatively elevated inflammatory and hematological response.
Conclusion: Study Concluded that COVID-19 patients smoking was linked to higher hematological values and more severe respiratory symptoms indicating that smoking exacerbates the severity of the disease and affects inflammatory and blood profile responses.