The unique challenges facing HIV-positive patients who smoke cigarettes: HIV viremia, ART adherence, engagement in HIV care, and concurrent substance use

AIDS Behav. 2015 Jan;19(1):178-85. doi: 10.1007/s10461-014-0762-7.

Abstract

Evidence suggests that smoking may have negative associations with HIV health outcomes. The smoking rate in our sample of people living with HIV (N = 333) was triple that of the general population (57 v. 19 %). Regression analyses revealed that (smokers v. non-smokers) reported lower medication adherence (unstandardized beta = 9.01) and were more likely to have a detectable viral load (OR = 2.85, 95 % CI [1.53-5.30]). Smokers attended fewer routine medical visits (β = -0.16) and were more likely to report recent hospitalization (OR = 1.89, 95 % CI [0.99, 3.57]). Smokers ranked "health" as less important to their quality of life (β = -0.13) and were more likely to report problematic alcohol (OR = 2.40, 95 % CI [1.35, 4.30]), cocaine (OR = 2.87, 95 % CI [1.48-5.58]), heroin (OR = 4.75, 95 % CI [1.01, 22.30]), or marijuana use (OR = 3.08, 95 % CI [1.76-5.38]). Findings underscore the need for integrated behavioral smoking cessation interventions and routine tobacco screenings in HIV primary care.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / physiopathology
  • HIV Infections / psychology
  • Health Behavior
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medication Adherence / psychology
  • Medication Adherence / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Referral and Consultation*
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / adverse effects
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Smoking / psychology
  • Smoking Cessation*
  • Substance-Related Disorders
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Viral Load
  • Viremia