Journal of Alcoholism & Drug Dependence
Open Access
ISSN: 2329-6488
ISSN: 2329-6488
María José Míguez-Burbano, Mayra E Vargas-Rivera, Yanerys Leon, Clery Quiros, John E Lewis, Luis A Espinoza, Deshratan Asthana and Cassandra A Stanton
Objective: Research suggests that smoking-cessation interventions are less successful among people living with HIV (PLWH). The factors influencing the limited success of evidence-based smoking-cessation interventions in this population are not well understood.
Design: Longitudinal analyses (of the first 12-months of an ongoing cohort (“FILTERS”) sociodemographically matched sample of 160 PLWH and 180 without HIVcomprised of both smokers and non-smokers.
Methods: Semi-annual visits include a detailed survey of smoking behaviors (e.g., type of cigarette, amounts) and cessation efforts (i.e., prior attempts to quit, interest in quitting). Additionally, a fasting blood sample was obtained to assess serum cotinine, biochemical, and viroimmune parameters.
Results: Compared to seronegatives, PLWH were more likely to be smokers (OR=1.4; 95% CI: 1-2.2;p=0.05).The readiness-to-quit-stages assessment showed that only 45% of the participants in the PLWH group were in the preparation or ready-to-action stages. PLWH were less likely to express interest in quitting than HIV negatives (OR=0.6; 95% CI: 0.4-1;p=0.05). Analyses indicated that PLWH were twice more likely to report stress, depression and anxiety as causes of relapse in prior quitting attempts (OR=1.6; 95% CI: 1.5- 2.4;p=0.004). After a natural course of 12 months, subjects receiving antidepressants exhibited larger reductions in number of cigarettes smoked per day (-2.6 CPD, p=0.06), than those without treatment (-0.8 CPD, p=0.2).
Conclusions: Our analyses indicated that negative moodsimpact quitting success rates, particularly among PLWH. Our findings suggest that evaluation and treatment of depression may be a critical component of a smoking cessation program.