Seropositivity for COVID-19 is less in smokers, vegetarians: CSIR survey
What's the story
In a serosurvey conducted by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in nearly 40 institutes, smokers and vegetarians were found to have lower seropositivity, i.e., a lesser risk of getting infected by the coronavirus. It also found that those with blood group 'O' may be less susceptible to the infection, while people with B and AB blood groups are at a higher risk.
COVID-19 research
More than 10,000 samples tested
For its study, the CSIR took samples of 10,427 adults working in its laboratories or institutions and their family members, based on voluntary participation, to assess the presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. The study, which was piloted by CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi said, of the 10,427 individuals, 1,058 (10.14 percent) had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
Recovery from COVID-19
Some infected people may not develop antibodies: IGIB Director
"The presence of such antibodies is a reliable marker of infection and recovery. However, some infected people may not develop antibodies," Anurag Agrawal, IGIB Director, and one of the co-authors of the paper said. Meanwhile, Shantanu Sengupta, senior scientist at IGIB and one of the co-authors of the paper said, "A follow-up on 346 seropositive individuals...revealed declining plasma activity for neutralizing the virus."
Factors
Possible risk factors and demographic information evaluated
Along with demographic information, possible risk factors were evaluated through self-filled online forms with data acquired on blood group type, occupation type, habits including smoking and alcohol, diet preferences, medical history, and transport type utilized. The study found that higher seropositivity was found among those using public transport and with occupational responsibilities such as security, housekeeping personnel, non-smokers and non-vegetarians, Sengupta said.
Smokers
Despite COVID-19 being a respiratory disease, smoking may be protective
"Our finding that smokers are less likely to be seropositive is the first report from the general population and part of growing evidence that despite COVID-19 being a respiratory disease, smoking may be protective," the study said. The paper also cites two studies from France and similar reports from Italy, New York, and China, which reported lower infection rates among smokers.
Respiratory disease
Smokers are more susceptible to COVID-19: Union Health Ministry
However, Union Health Ministry's document, COVID-19 Pandemic and Tobacco Use in India said that smokers were more likely to develop severe symptoms or die from COVID-19, as it primarily attacks the lungs and warned against the use of tobacco products. The act of smoking means that fingers are in contact with lips increasing the possibility of transmission of the virus, the document warned.