Cessation of Cigarette Smoking and the Impact on Cancer Incidence in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-infected Persons: The Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs Study

This study of 35442 HIV-infected people found that the incidence of lung cancer was 10-fold higher 5 years after smoking cessation compared with never smokers; the incidence of other smoking-related cancers returned to levels of nonsmokers 2-3 years after smoking cessation. Abstract Background Cancers are a major source of morbidity and mortality for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons, but the clinical benefits of smoking cessation are unknown. Methods Participants were followed from 1 January 2004 until first cancer diagnosis, death, or 1 February 2016. Smoking status was defined as ex-smoker, current smoker, and never smoker. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) were calculated using Poisson regression, adjusting for demographic and clinical factors. Results In total 35442 persons from the Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) study contributed 309803 person-years of follow-up. At baseline, 49% were current smokers, 21% were ex-smokers, and 30% had never smoked. Incidence of all cancers combined (n = 2183) was highest