Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and smoking in COVID-19

Ishchenko A.U.

Vitebsk State Medical University, Vitebsk, Belarus

COPD is a chronic disease that progressively worsens the patient's respiratory function. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 in a patient with COPD with initially low respiratory rates should theoretically lead to a more severe course and a high probability of lethal outcome. However, at present, no direct connection has been found between the presence of COPD, smoking and a high risk of being infected or severe course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of great importance in the study of these paradoxical facts is the interaction between the reninangiotensin and nicotinic cholinergic systems. In this review, we perform an extensive literature search for studies of the relationship between COPD, smoking, and SARS-CoV-2 infection.