Population-Based Study of Tobacco Use Among People Living With HIV in Puerto Rico.

Colón-López V, González-Barrios D, De León SM, Girona-Lozada G, Machin M, Charneco E, Frias-Belén O, Román L, Ortiz AP.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Despite substantial advances in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy, HIV-positive persons are at high risk of tobacco-related disease and mortality. This study describes the prevalence and sociodemographic factors associated with current tobacco use among HIV-positive men and women 18 years and older receiving HIV care in Puerto Rico.

METHODS:

Data from the 2009 Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) was used. A three-stage sampling design was conducted to obtain annual cross-sectional probability samples of HIV-infected adults in care. Factors associated with current tobacco use were identified using logistic regression models. All analyses were performed using STATA version 11.0.

RESULTS:

The estimated prevalence of current cigarette use among the population was 29.0% (95% CI: 23.5%-35.2%), daily smoking was reported in 76.7% of them. Multivariate logistic regression models, showed that male drug users (injected and noninjected) were up to nine times more likely to be current smokers (OR = 9.9; 95%CI = 3.1, 31.5) as compared to nonusers.

CONCLUSION:

Findings highlight the need for smoking cessation strategies in this population, particularly among male HIV+ drug users

KEYWORDS: ART; HIV; MMP; Puerto Rico; tobacco