Smoking doubles the risk of death for people with HIV
Two years ago, a study from Denmark [1] showed that smoking has a bigger impact on the life expectancy of people living with HIV than HIV itself. An individual living with HIV who has never smoked could expect to live five years fewer than someone in the general population. On the other hand, someone living with HIV who smokes would live twelve years fewer.
Now the same researchers have analysed data on deaths and smoking in around 18,000 people in Europe and North America over a 14-year period [2]. Everyone in the study was living with HIV and taking anti-HIV drugs.
They have found that smoking doubles the risk of death. Each year, 8 in every 1000 smokers died. Among non-smokers, 4 in every 1000 people died.
The increase in deaths was mostly due to cardiovascular disease (heart attacks, strokes, etc.), lung cancer, other cancers, and liver disease.
The life expectancy of a 35-year-old HIV-positive man who smoked was on average eight years shorter than that of an HIV-positive non-smoker. And as people got older, smoking had even more impact.
But the study shows the benefit of giving up smoking and therefore the importance of interventions which help people to quit. The risk of death for ex-smokers was no higher than for people who had never smoked.
You can get more information and advice on quitting smoking in AIDSMap/NAM resource Living with HIV.
Dr Ruth Hope
Health & Development Consultant
3327 Pensa Dr
Falls Church
VA 22041
United States of America
Tel: +1-703-93101480
Cel: +1-703-283-6157
Skype: ruthhope1
Alternative email: ruth.hope100@gmail.com
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