Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 24, 2026
06:12
Using Nicotine in a Silica-Exposed Mouse Model to Promote Lung Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: March 3, 2023
1.5K
Nicotine dependence among critically ill COVID-19 patients: A population-based cohort study
John Garza1, Roy Sebastian1, Brinkley Cover1
1Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at the Permian Basin, Odessa, Texas, United States of America.
Plos One
|April 22, 2026
Summary
Nicotine dependence may reduce mortality risk in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Current and former nicotine users showed lower in-hospital mortality rates compared to non-users, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Nicotine dependence is linked to poor health outcomes and respiratory diseases.
- The prognostic impact of nicotine dependence on COVID-19 outcomes remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between nicotine dependence and mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of deidentified Texas ICU hospitalization records (Q2 2020-Q4 2024) for patients aged ≥18 with COVID-19.
- Categorization of patients into current, former, and never nicotine dependent groups.
- Weighted multivariable logistic regression and g-computation to assess nicotine dependence's effect on mortality.
Main Results:
- 142,045 COVID-19 ICU hospitalizations were analyzed; 7.3% were current, 16.7% former, and 76.0% never nicotine dependent.
- Nicotine-dependent individuals had a higher comorbidity burden but lower in-hospital mortality rates (10.7% current, 13.8% former vs. 16.1% never).
- Adjusted analyses confirmed that current and former nicotine dependence were associated with reduced in-hospital and short-term mortality.
Conclusions:
- Current and former nicotine dependence were associated with lower mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, despite higher comorbidity burdens.
- These findings suggest a potential protective effect of nicotine dependence against COVID-19 mortality.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving these observations.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants
2.2K
Ganglionic stimulants activate NM nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, falling into two categories: nicotine mimetics [e.g., lobeline, dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylammonium] and muscarinic receptor agonists [e.g., muscarine, methacholine]. The first category's action is rapid and blocked by nicotinic receptor antagonists, while the second category's action is delayed and blocked by atropine-like agents. Nicotine, an alkaloid, affects the heart rate by stimulating...
2.2K
01:27CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
1.6K
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
1.6K
01:17Drug Dependence
1.9K
Medications are typically administered to achieve therapeutic effects. Some drugs can modify an individual's mood and perception, frequently resulting in various enjoyable experiences. However, this can result in drug dependency, a condition marked by continuous drug use despite potential negative consequences. Drug dependency primarily falls into two categories: psychological and physical dependence. Psychological dependence occurs when the pleasurable feelings induced by the drug...
1.9K
01:29Stimulants
1.4K
Stimulants are substances that enhance neural activity and elevate dopamine levels in the brain, leading to their highly addictive nature. These drugs include cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, caffeine, and nicotine, each with distinct mechanisms of action and varied health implications.
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
1.4K
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
2.1K
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung conditions that progressively worsen over time, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This cluster of diseases collectively leads to a gradual and irreversible decline in lung function over time.
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
2.1K
01:19Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a long-term condition marked by persistent and only partially reversible airflow limitation. It involves two overlapping conditions—chronic bronchitis and emphysema—which often co-appear but differ in dominant symptoms and underlying mechanisms.Chronic Bronchitis FeaturesChronic bronchitis presents with a persistent productive cough and thick, sometimes purulent mucus due to airway inflammation, enlarged mucus glands, and goblet...
22