Physical Activity, Cigarette Smoking, and Depression Among People with HIV

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• HIV Research

Background:

• People with HIV (PWH) exhibit higher rates of cigarette smoking and clinical depression compared to the general population.
• Physical activity (PA) is known to aid smoking cessation and reduce depression in the general population, but its role for PWH is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the associations between cigarette smoking, physical activity, and depression among adult people with HIV.
• To investigate the independent and combined effects of physical inactivity and depressive symptoms on smoking status in PWH.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS)/Women Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) (October 2021-September 2022).
• Logistic regression and structural equation modeling were employed to assess relationships between smoking, PA, and depression.
• Adjusted models controlled for demographic factors, substance use, and viral load.

Main Results:

• Insufficient physical activity was significantly associated with higher odds of current smoking among PWH (aOR=1.40).
• Higher levels of depressive symptoms were also significantly associated with increased odds of current smoking (aOR=1.57).
• These associations were more pronounced in females compared to males, and structural equation modeling suggested independent effects of PA and depression on smoking.

Conclusions:

• Physical inactivity and depression are independently associated with cigarette smoking among people with HIV.
• Interventions targeting physical activity and depression may be beneficial for smoking cessation in PWH.
• Longitudinal studies are recommended to establish causality and understand the directionality of these relationships.