Variación de la frecuencia del consumo de cigarrillos en adultos fumadores en una provincia de Lima durante la pandemia de la COVID-19

Introduction: Tobacco consumption is harmful to individual and public health and is associated with high morbidity and mortality among direct and passive consumers. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the entire world, had a significant effect on tobacco consumption. The objective of this study was to analyze tobacco consumption during the pandemic among adultsmokers in the Imperial district of Cañete, Peru. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted on 424 participants, applying a sociodemographic questionnaire that included information on cigarette consumption before and during the pandemic, as well as comorbidities, using a Google Forms questionnaire distributed via social media and WhatsApp among thepopulation of Imperial. Results: The sample included 424 participants, mostly men (54.5%), aged 30 to 40 years (36.3%), with a secondary education, stable partners, and residents of urban areas. During the pandemic, 69.5% quit smoking, and among those who continued the habit, 66.7% reduced their consumption. Before COVID-19, light smokers predominated (52.6%), a percentage that decreased significantly during the pandemic (84.9%). Quitting was mainly related to respiratory problems (p=0.006; p=0.031), as well as fear of infection and reduced income. Conclusions: It is concluded that the pandemic motivated most people to quit or reduce their cigarette consumption, with age and socioeconomic status influencing this decision, while gender and comorbidities were associatedwith continuing to smoke.