Smoking Among HIV-Infected Adults in the U.S.

Smoking is much more common — and successful quitting much less common — among adults with HIV infection than in the general adult population.

Cigarette smoking and HIV infection are synergistic health catastrophes, with good evidence indicating that each exacerbates the complications of the other. Small studies have suggested that smoking prevalence in HIV-infected populations approaches 50%, but nationwide data are lacking.

Researchers used two large national databases (the Medical Monitoring Project and the National Health Interview Survey) to estimate the prevalence of cigarette smoking among HIV-infected adults and adults in the general U.S. population. All told, the HIV-infected participants were much more likely to be current smokers (42% vs. 21%) and, if they had ever smoked, much less likely to have quit (quit ratio, 32% vs. 52%). Among the HIV-infected, smoking prevalence…

Reviewing Author

Abigail Zuger, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Abigail Zuger, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Smoking Among HIV-Infected Adults in the U.S.

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Reviewing Author