Rate of Nicotine Metabolism and Tobacco Use among Persons with HIV: Implications for Treatment and Research

HIV-positive smokers taking efavirenz had significantly faster nicotine metabolism (higher NMR) than those not taking efavirenz in a multiple regression model, with efavirenz alone accounting for 5% u

Effect: decline; b = 0.221, p = .010

Higher nicotine metabolite ratio was significantly associated with smoking more cigarettes per day among HIV-positive smokers, replicating the well-established NMR-smoking rate relationship in the gen

Effect: decline; r = .30, p = .001 (univariate); b = 0.188, p = 0.050 (multivariate)

Higher nicotine metabolite ratio was significantly associated with higher anxiety symptoms among HIV-positive smokers in univariate analysis and marginally in the multivariate model.

Effect: decline; r = .26, p = .003 (univariate); b = 0.191, p = .054 (multivariate)

HIV-positive smokers had a higher mean NMR than previously reported in the general population of smokers, suggesting a greater proportion of fast nicotine metabolizers among PLWH.

Effect: decline; Mean NMR 0.47 (HIV+ sample) vs 0.34-0.39 (general population reference)

Higher NMR was associated with higher nicotine dependence in univariate analysis but this association did not survive multivariate adjustment, consistent with findings among opioid-dependent populatio

Effect: null; r = .18, p = .045 (univariate); not significant in multivariate model