HIV Inflammation Linked to Higher Smoking Intensity and Duration by Anjanee Sharma on March 9, 2021 at 8:28 PM
Research, carried out by Krishna Poudel and colleagues, has found positive linear relationships between inflammation and the intensity, duration, and pack-years of smoking in HIV-positive people.
Poudel says the study s findings suggest that people living with HIV would benefit not just from quitting smoking but from smoking less. He also points out that a high level of inflammation is associated with a greater risk of disease and death in HIV-positive people. While it is important to support and encourage people living with HIV to quit smoking ultimately, it is also important to suggest they reduce the frequency of smoking until they can fully quit. That would also help their health status by reducing inflammation, he adds.