The effect of cigarette smoking on the development of AIDS in HIV-1-seropositive individuals.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether HIV-1-seropositive cigarette smokers progress more rapidly to AIDS than HIV-1-seropositive non-smokers.


METHODS
The genitourinary medicine outpatient department of St Mary's Hospital, London, which is a London University teaching hospital (tertiary care centre).


METHODS
Case series of 84 individuals with AIDS who provided accurate details of their smoking habits before their AIDS-defining diagnosis.


METHODS
Progression time to AIDS in relation to smoking habit.


RESULTS
Progression time to AIDS (all diagnoses) was significantly reduced in HIV-1-seropositive smokers: median time to AIDS was 8.17 months for smokers (n = 43) and 14.50 months for non-smokers (n = 41) (P = 0.003). Smokers developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) more rapidly than non-smokers, with a median time to PCP of 9.0 months, compared with 16.0 months for non-smokers (P = 0.002). Smoking had no significant effect on progression time to AIDS when not due to PCP.


CONCLUSIONS
Cigarette smoking by HIV-1-seropositive individuals is associated with a more rapid development of AIDS and should be discouraged.
Nieman
R B
RB
Department of Respiratory Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
Fleming
J
J
Coker
R J
RJ
Harris
J R
JR
Mitchell
D M
DM
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors