From The Guardian:
French researchers to test nicotine patches on coronavirus patients
Study – which stresses serious health risks of smoking – suggest substance in tobacco may lower risk of getting coronavirus
This is fascinating. Yes, we may be grasping at straws here, but the study indicates some real biologic plausibility. The article in The Guardian and the original article rate a read.
In France, figures from Paris hospitals showed that of 11,000 patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19, 8.5% were smokers. The total number of smokers in France is estimated at around 25.4%.
Put down the Gauloises. Cigarettes are death. Nicotine is a poison. Agatha Christie knew this. But it also modulates immune responses, and may protect against the effects of the virus. So a patch may be a good idea.
I should note that the same numerical effect might occur if what smoking does is just make people with the virus die at home, undiagnosed, instead of going to the hospital. Also note that a patch for a patient already infected may not be effective, even if it would have been preventive. There is a whole universe of biology here that we do not yet understand.
But it’s a small ray of hope. Hope it’s not just blowing smoke.