Cigarette Smoking and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence in a Sample of Heavy Drinking HIV Infected Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)
Cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use is prevalent among HIV infected men who sex with men (MSM) and have been linked to imperfect antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. Our study examined the correlates of smoking and whether smoking was independently associated with imperfect adherence in heavy drinking HIV infected MSM. Of the 185 participants, approximately half (n 91, 49.2 reported having smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days. Current smokers were more likely to have reported imperfect adherence compared to non smokers (37.4.2 vs. 22.3 p 0.05) In multivariable regression analyses, only lower education was significantly associated with imperfect adherence. This study demonstrated that the greatest risk factor for smoking and imperfect ART adherence was low socioeconomic status, in which MSM of color were over represented. As the first study to examine smoking and ART adherence in this population, our study has the potential to inform the clinical care provided to heavy drinking MSM.ResumenEl uso de tabaco y consumo excesivo de alcohol son prevalentes entre los hombres diagnosticados con HIV quienes tienen relaciones sexuales con otros hombres (HSH) y han sido asociados a la adherencia de terapia antiretroviral (ART) imperfecta. Nuestro estudio examina la correlacion entre el acto de fumar y si el fumar es asociado independientemente con la adherencia imperfecta en HSH diagnosticados con HIV, quienes son consumidores excesivos de alcohol. De los 185 participantes del estudio, aproximadamente la mitad (n 91, 49.2 informo haber fumado cigarrillos en los ultimos 30 dias. Fumadores recurrentes fueron mas propensos a reportar adherencia imperfecta en comparacion con no fumadores (37.4.2 vs. 22.3 p 0.05) En el analisis de regresion multivariable, solamente baja educacion fue significativamente asociada con adherencia imperfecta. Este estudio demostro que el mayor factor de riesgo para fumar y adherencia imperfecta ART fue el bajo estatus socioeconomico, en el cual HSH de color estaban sobrerrepresentados. Siendo el primer estudio en examinar el uso de tabaco y la adherencia ART en esta poblacion, nuestra investigacion tiene el potencial de informar preventivamente a la clinica sobre HSH consumidores excesivos de alcohol.
AIDS and Behavior