Women infected with HIV or at risk of becoming infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, appear more likely to develop lung cancer than women in the general population, possibly because they are much more likely to smoke cigarettes.
Women infected with HIV or at risk of becoming infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, appear more likely to develop lung cancer than women in the general population, possibly because they are much more likely to smoke cigarettes.
People with HIV have a much higher risk for many cancers. Still, it is unclear whether HIV infection plays a role in the development of lung cancer. To investigate, researchers compared lung cancer cases in 2,651 HIV-infected and 898 at-risk but uninfected women, who were 35 years old on average, with lung cancer cases estimated to occur among similarly aged women in the general population.
A substantially increased risk of lung cancer was found among both HIV-infected and at-risk uninfected women compared with population-based expectations. Specifically, population estimates suggested that the researchers would find between four and five lung cancer cases. Instead, over five years of follow up, they found 14 lung cancers - 12 in HIV-infected women and two in women at risk for HIV infection. However, further analysis revealed that only smoking history and duration were significantly associated with lung cancer in the women with HIV or at risk for HIV infection.
Approximately two-thirds of women in the HIV group smoked. All of the women that developed lung cancer smoked, and over their lifetime smoked about double the amount of cigarettes as their lung cancer-free peers. There were no lung cancer cases among the women who were lifetime non-smokers.
Though the above fining indicate that HIV infection is strongly associated with smoking behaviors that increase lung cancer risk, the role of HIV itself remains to be clarified with further studies.
People with HIV have a much higher risk for many cancers. Still, it is unclear whether HIV infection plays a role in the development of lung cancer. To investigate, researchers compared lung cancer cases in 2,651 HIV-infected and 898 at-risk but uninfected women, who were 35 years old on average, with lung cancer cases estimated to occur among similarly aged women in the general population.
A substantially increased risk of lung cancer was found among both HIV-infected and at-risk uninfected women compared with population-based expectations. Specifically, population estimates suggested that the researchers would find between four and five lung cancer cases. Instead, over five years of follow up, they found 14 lung cancers - 12 in HIV-infected women and two in women at risk for HIV infection. However, further analysis revealed that only smoking history and duration were significantly associated with lung cancer in the women with HIV or at risk for HIV infection.
Approximately two-thirds of women in the HIV group smoked. All of the women that developed lung cancer smoked, and over their lifetime smoked about double the amount of cigarettes as their lung cancer-free peers. There were no lung cancer cases among the women who were lifetime non-smokers.
Though the above fining indicate that HIV infection is strongly associated with smoking behaviors that increase lung cancer risk, the role of HIV itself remains to be clarified with further studies.
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