Differences in Cognition and Smoking Abstinence Rates Among People With and Without HIV Who Smoke

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Persistent high smoking rates among people with HIV (PWH) may be linked to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
• These disorders might worsen cognitive deficits during smoking abstinence, increasing relapse risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare smoking abstinence rates and abstinence-induced cognitive deficits between PWH and people without HIV (PWOH).

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study (NCT03169101) with 210 adult smokers (38.1% PWH).
• Cognitive function (response inhibition, working memory, verbal memory) assessed during abstinence and usual smoking conditions.
• All participants received standard smoking cessation treatment for 8 weeks.

Main Results:

• No significant interactions between HIV status and abstinence condition on cognitive outcomes.
• Significant abstinence-induced deficits observed in response inhibition, working memory, and verbal memory.
• Smoking abstinence rates did not differ significantly between PWH (31.2%) and PWOH (32.3%).

Conclusions:

• Contrary to hypotheses, no differences in abstinence rates or cognitive deficits were found between PWH and PWOH.
• Cognition may not be a primary driver of smoking in PWH.
• More research is required to elucidate the mechanisms behind higher smoking rates in PWH.