People who are infected with HIV are at an increased risk for lung cancer.
Until recently, smoking has been seen as the standalone cause of lung cancer. Independent of smoking, an HIV infection can also increase the risk for lung cancer.
Researchers at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Baltimore evaluated lung cancer deaths among injection drug users followed since 1998 as part of an AIDS study. Out of the 27 lung cancer deaths among the 2,086 subjects, it was found that 14 occurred in HIV-infected cases. After adjusting the potentially confounding factors like age, sex and smoking status, it was observed that HIV infection was associated with a 3.6-fold increased risk for lung cancer death compared to HIV-negative status.
The results indicate the possibility of non-AIDS outcomes getting modulated by HIV infection. Simply speaking, HIV status can be a significant factor in lung cancer.
Currently, a series of smoking related biomarkers are being evaluated in HIV infected and uninfected persons, to compare the effects of smoking with HIV infection in lung cancer.
Therefore, infection with HIV increase the risk of lung cancer, but whether this risk reflects solely their heavy tobacco use remains an open question.
Until recently, smoking has been seen as the standalone cause of lung cancer. Independent of smoking, an HIV infection can also increase the risk for lung cancer.
Researchers at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Baltimore evaluated lung cancer deaths among injection drug users followed since 1998 as part of an AIDS study. Out of the 27 lung cancer deaths among the 2,086 subjects, it was found that 14 occurred in HIV-infected cases. After adjusting the potentially confounding factors like age, sex and smoking status, it was observed that HIV infection was associated with a 3.6-fold increased risk for lung cancer death compared to HIV-negative status.
The results indicate the possibility of non-AIDS outcomes getting modulated by HIV infection. Simply speaking, HIV status can be a significant factor in lung cancer.
Currently, a series of smoking related biomarkers are being evaluated in HIV infected and uninfected persons, to compare the effects of smoking with HIV infection in lung cancer.
Therefore, infection with HIV increase the risk of lung cancer, but whether this risk reflects solely their heavy tobacco use remains an open question.