These data suggest that ongoing HIV replication and immune depletion significantly contribute to increased prevalence of elevated biomarkers of inflammation, altered coagulation, and monocyte activation. This contribution is independent of and in addition to the substantial contribution from comorbid conditions.

Rationale: Prior studies comparing abnormalities in pulmonary function between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected persons in the current era are limited. Objectives: To determine the pattern and severity of impairment in pulmonary function in HIV-infected compared to HIV-uninfected individuals. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 300 HIV-infected and 289 HIV-uninfected men enrolled from 2009-2011 in two clinical centers of the Lung HIV Study. Participants completed pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry, diffusing capacity (DLCO) measurement, and standardized questionnaires. Results: Most participants had normal airflow; 18% of HIV-infected and 16% of HIV-uninfected men had airflow obstruction. The mean percent predicted DLCO was 69% in HIV-infected vs. 76% in HIV-uninfected men (p<0.001). A moderately to severely reduced DLCO of ≤60% was observed in 30% of HIV-infected compared to 18% of HIV-uninfected men (p<0.001), despite the fact that 89% of those with HIV were on antiretroviral therapy. A reduced DLCO was significantly associated with HIV and CD4 cell count in linear regression adjusting for smoking and other confounders. The DLCO was lowest in HIV-infected men with CD4 cell counts <200 compared to those with CD4 cell counts ≥200 and to HIV-uninfected men. Respiratory symptoms of cough, phlegm and dyspnea were more prevalent in HIV-infected patients particularly those with abnormal pulmonary function compared to HIV-uninfected patients. Conclusions: HIV infection is an independent risk factor for reduced DLCO, particularly in individuals with a CD4 cell count below 200. Abnormalities in pulmonary function among HIV-infected patients manifest clinically with increased respiratory symptoms. Mechanisms accounting for the reduced DLCO require further evaluation.

Objective To determine the association between HIV infection and other risk factors for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Design Longitudinal, national Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) including 43,618 HIV-infected and 86,492 uninfected Veterans. Methods AECOPD was defined as an inpatient or outpatient COPD ICD-9 diagnosis accompanied by steroid and/or antibiotic prescription within 5 days. We calculated incident rate ratios [IRR] and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for first AECOPD over 2 years and used Poisson regression models to adjust for risk factors. Results Over 234,099 person-years of follow-up, 1,428 HIV-infected and 2,104 uninfected patients had at least one AECOPD. HIV-infected patients had an increased rate of AECOPD compared with uninfected (18.8 vs. 13.3 per 1000 person-years, p<0.001). In adjusted models, AECOPD risk was greater in HIV-infected individuals overall (IRR 1.54; 95% CI 1.44 – 1.65), particularly in those with more severe immune suppression when stratified by CD4 cell count (cells/mm3) compared to uninfected (HIV-infected CD4<200: IRR 2.30, 95% CI 2.10-2.53, HIV-infected CD4 ≥200-349: IRR 1.32, 95% CI 1.15-1.51, HIV-infected CD4≥350: IRR 0.99, 95% CI 0.88-1.10). HIV infection also modified the association between current smoking and alcohol-related diagnoses with risk for AECOPD such that interaction terms for HIV and current smoking or HIV and alcohol-related diagnoses were each significantly associated with AECOPD. Conclusions HIV infection, especially with lower CD4 count, is an independent risk factor for AECOPD. Enhanced susceptibility to harm from current smoking or unhealthy alcohol use in HIV-infected patients may also contribute to the greater rate of AECOPD.

Treatment rates for hepatitis C virus (HCV) are low in actual clinical settings. However, the proportion of patients eligible for treatment, especially among those coinfected with HIV, is not well known. Our aim was to determine and compare the rates for HCV treatment eligibility among HCV and HCV-HIV-coinfected persons. We assembled a national cohort of HCV-infected veterans in care from 1998-2003, using the VA National Patient Care Database for demographic/clinical information, the Pharmacy Benefits Management database for pharmacy records, and the Decision Support Systems database for laboratory data. We compared the HCV-monoinfected and HCV-HIV-coinfected subjects for treatment indications and eligibility using current treatment guidelines. Of the 27,452 subjects with HCV and 1225 with HCV-HIV coinfection, 74.0% and 84.6% had indications for therapy and among these, 43.9% of HCV-monoinfected and 28.4% of HCV-HIV-coinfected subjects were eligible for treatment. Anemia, decompensated liver disease (DLD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), recent alcohol abuse, and coronary artery disease were the most common contraindications in the HCV, and anemia, DLD, renal failure, recent drug abuse, and COPD in the HCV-HIV-coinfected group. Among those eligible for treatment, only 23% of the HCV-monoinfected and 15% of the HCV-HIV-coinfected subjects received any treatment for HCV. Most veterans with HCV are not eligible for treatment according to the current guidelines. Even for those who are eligible for treatment, only a minority is prescribed treatment. Several contraindications are modifiable and aggressive management of those may improve treatment prescription rates.

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