Smoking habits in HIV-infected people compared with the general population in Italy: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable diseases and death for all individuals, even more so for people living with HIV (PLWH), due to their status of chronic inflammation. To date, in Italy no study was performed to compare smoking habits in PLWH and the general population. We aimed to investigate smoking habits in PLWH, as compared to the general population. Methods: Multi-center cross-sectional study. Smoking habits were compared between PLWH and the general population. PLWH were enrolled in the STOPSHIV Study. The comparison group from the general population was derived from a survey performed by the National Statistics Institute (ISTAT), with a stratified random sampling procedure matching 2:1 general population subjects with PLWH by age class, sex, and macro-area of residence. Results: The total sample consisted of 1087 PLWH (age 47.9 ± 10.8 years, male 73.5%) and 2218 comparable subjects from the general population. Prevalence of current smokers was 51.6% vs 25.9% (p < 0.001); quitting smoking rate was 27.1% vs. 50.1% (p < 0.001) and the mean number of cigarettes smoked per day was 15.8 vs. 11.9 (p < 0.001), respectively for PLWH and the general population. Smoking and heavy smoking rates amongst PLWH were significantly higher even in subjects who reported diabetes, hypertension and extreme obesity (p < 0.001). Logistic regressions showed that PLWH were more likely current smokers (adjusted Odds Ratio, aOR = 3.11; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) =2.62-3.71; p < 0.001) and heavy smokers (> 20 cigarettes per day) (aOR = 4.84; 95% CI = 3.74-6.27; p < 0.001). PLWH were less likely to have quitted smoking (aOR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.29-0.46; p < 0.001). Conclusion: HIV-infected patients showed a higher rate of current smokers, a larger number of cigarettes smoked and a lower quitting rate than the general population. Our findings emphasize the need for smoking cessation strategies targeting HIV persons.

Cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities in people living with HIV: A cross-sectional multicenter study from Colombia comorbidities in a Colombian PLWHIV population

“…For example, the Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs (DAD) cohort reported a 42.8% prevalence of tobacco smoking. 41 Furthermore, De socio et al described active tobacco use in 51.6%, which is similar to what has been reported in Germany, Spain, France, and Austria 42,45 . Conversely, tobacco smoking prevalence in African and Latin American countries ranges from 1.8% to 25.8% and 10.3%–50%, respectively 46,47 .…”

Nicotine self-administration with menthol and audiovisual cue facilitates differential packaging of CYP2A6 and cytokines/chemokines in rat plasma extracellular vesicles

“…Due to their unique ability, EVs have been studied for their pathogenic and protective role in neurodegenerative and infectious diseases including HAND 62 – 65 . Moreover, cigarette smoking is highly prevalent among people living with HIV 66 – 68 . On the other hand, adding menthol in tobacco products may enhance the addiction or negative effects of tobacco constituents 69 – 71 .…”

Disability-adjusted life years associated with chronic comorbidities among people living with and without HIV: Estimating health burden in British Columbia, Canada

“…First-generation nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, for example, have been associated with an increased risk of liver fibrosis [67]. Alcohol use, which is associated with a higher level of cirrhosis biomarkers in HIV-hepatitis C co-infected individuals, and smoking, a major risk factor of COPD, have also been found more prevalent among PLWH [68][69][70][71]. Additionally, among PLWH, our findings bolster the growing body of literature [72][73][74][75], and underline the merit of considering sex differences and history of injection drug use in formulating appropriate chronic disease interventions in this population.…”