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Smoking carries higher MI risk among HIV patients
Smoking appears to confer a higher risk for myocardial infarction in HIV patients than in the overall population, according to recent findings.
“Smoking is one of the largest contributors to [myocardial infarction (MI)] worldwide and possibly one of the predominant risk factors for MI among HIV-infected individuals,” researchers wrote in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
The researchers evaluated MI risk in 3,233 HIV patients and 12,932 age- and gender-matched controls identified through several nationwide Danish health care registries. Study participants were categorized as smokers if they reported smoking any type of tobacco at least once a week.
Although HIV was not correlated with an elevated MI risk among those who had never smoked, the disease was correlated with a significantly increased risk in former (adjusted IRR = 1.78; 95% CI, 0.75-4.24) and current smokers (aIRR = 2.83; 95% CI, 1.71-4.7). Previous or current smoking accounted for 72% (95% CI, 55%-82%) of MIs among HIV patients and 24% (95% CI, 3%-40%) among matched controls. The researchers projected that smoking cessation among all current smokers would result in a 42% reduction in MIs among HIV patients (95% CI, 21%-57%) and a 21% decrease among controls (95% CI, 12%-28%).
High rates of alcohol consumption, illicit drug use and secondary psychiatric disorders among HIV-infected smokers, however, may present barriers to smoking cessation initiatives in this population, the researchers said.
“Considering these results, specific designed interventions to reduce the prevalence of smoking should be highly prioritized, actively pursued, and integrated in modern HIV care,” they wrote.
Disclosure: Rasmussen reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.