Early data indicate that smoking increases the severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) symptoms. Individuals living with HIV are more likely to smoke and less likely to quit than those in the general population, placing them at high risk for poor COVID-19 outcomes. Comorbidities associated with HIV, including cardiovascular disease and chronic lung disease, further heighten risk for a severe course of COVID-19 illness, which has been linked to over 40,000 deaths in the U.S. thus far. To mitigate COVID-19 related health disparities and inform intervention strategies, it is crucial to assess the degree to which nicotine dependence and HIV disease stage affect the onset and progression of COVID-19 in smokers living with HIV. Disruptions to engagement in HIV care and antiretroviral therapy regimens may compromise efforts to maintain viral suppression and lead to increases in rates of anxiety and depression, both of which are already elevated in individuals living with HIV compared to the general population. Increases in negative affect (anxiety and depression) are established pathways to smoking relapse among smokers living with HIV who may use cigarettes to regulate their negative mood; therefore, increases in anxiety and depression resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic could impact smoking cessation and relapse. Given the primary outcomes of the parent grant, we will also examine the ways in which COVID-19 related mental health responses COVID-19influence uptake of smoking cessation treatments, smoking abstinence, and other relevant smoking outcomes. This proposed Administrative Supplement is responsive to the Notice of Special Interest regarding the Availability of Administrative Supplements Research on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (NOSI - NOT-DA-20-047) issued by NIDA and is appropriate to PA-18-591 (Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants). Specifically, our application is responsive to 3 areas of research requested by the NOSI: (1) ?Research to determine whether substance use (especially smoking tobacco?) is a risk factor for the onset and progression of COVID-19,? (2) ?Research on how HIV among persons who use substances may impact the onset and progression of COVID-19,? and (3) ?Research using ongoing studies to understand the broad impacts of COVID-19 (e.g., anxiety...) on ?, substance use, substance use disorders, and access to addiction treatment.? Through this administrative supplement application we directly address these three areas and propose the following specific aims: (1) to quantify the relationship among baseline nicotine dependence severity, baseline HIV disease stage and their interaction), with COVID-19 outcomes (COVID-19 susceptibility, clinical symptom burden, level of treatment, COVID-19 disease outcome) over up to 2 years of follow up; and (2) quantify manifestations of negative affect that have emerged in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the degree to which these different manifestations impact uptake of smoking cessation treatments over the follow up period. We will achieve these aims by leveraging the of our parent R01 grant.

Public Health Relevance

As of April 2020, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to over 40,000 deaths in the United States, and smoking likely exacerbates the severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Smoking is common among individuals living with HIV, who may already be at heightened risk for a severe course of COVID-19 due to HIV-related comorbidities, and increases in negative affect resulting from the pandemic may compromise smoking cessation efforts. Understanding the degree to which nicotine dependence and HIV disease stage impact COVID-19 outcomes, as well as the influence of COVID-related negative affect on smoking abstinence, will inform knowledge of COVID-19 risk factors and contribute to targeted interventions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01DA047933-02S1
Application #
10152910
Study Section
HIV/AIDS Intra- and Inter-personal Determinants and Behavioral Interventions Study Section (HIBI)
Program Officer
Su, Shelley
Project Start
2019-05-15
Project End
2023-02-28
Budget Start
2020-03-01
Budget End
2021-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
073130411
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02114