Menthol cigarettes and the cardiovascular risks of people living with HIV
Insights
Menthol cigarettes significantly increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including hypertension and obesity. This study highlights that menthol smokers face double the odds of moderate to high CVD risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Tobacco Use Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a major concern for people living with HIV (PLWH).
- The impact of menthol cigarettes on CVD risk factors is not well understood.
- Menthol cigarette use is prevalent, especially among women, minorities, and PLWH.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess traditional and nontraditional CVD risk factors in menthol versus non-menthol cigarette smokers.
- To determine if menthol cigarette use exacerbates CVD risk in PLWH.
- To provide data for public health strategies regarding menthol cigarette consumption.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of CVD risk factors between menthol and non-menthol cigarette smokers.
- Utilized the Framingham Risk Model for 10-year CVD risk assessment.
- Employed multivariate analyses to evaluate odds of moderate to high CVD risk.
Main Results:
- Menthol smokers were twice as likely to have hypertension compared to controls.
- Menthol users exhibited higher body mass index and increased risk of abdominal obesity.
- Multivariate analyses showed menthol smokers had doubled odds of moderate to high CVD risk.
Conclusions:
- Menthol cigarette smoking is associated with significantly heightened CVD risk factors.
- The findings underscore the public health importance of menthol cigarette use, particularly in vulnerable populations.
- Further research and interventions are warranted to address menthol cigarette-related CVD risks.
Abstract:
The possibility that menthol cigarettes add to the deleterious cardiovascular effects of smoking has been barely discussed. Although cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are at the forefront of medical concerns of people living with HIV (PLWH), an important, yet unknown, issue for clinicians and public health authorities is whether use of menthol-flavored cigarettes heightens CVD risk factors. Our study aims to assess traditional (10-year risk using the Framingham Risk Model) and nontraditional CVD risk factors and to contrast the effects of menthol-flavored versus non-menthol-flavored cigarettes on these risk factors. Compared to controls, menthol smokers were twice as likely to have hypertension. Users of menthol-flavored cigarettes had higher body mass index values, and increased risk of abdominal obesity. Multivariate analyses indicated that menthol smokers doubled the odds of having moderate to high CVD risk. This finding is highly significant given the widespread use of menthol-flavored cigarettes, particularly among women, minorities, and PLWH.
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