Prevalence of tobacco use in a cross-sectional survey of people initiating HIV care in a Chennai clinic.

Objectives

We aimed to understand tobacco use and treatment patterns among adults starting care in a Chennai HIV clinic.

Methods

Cross-sectional survey of adults initiating HIV care with biochemical verification of tobacco exposure.

Results

Among 154 adult patients (10/2019-12/2021) initiating HIV care, 37.7% (n = 58) self-reported current tobacco use (13.6% [n = 21] smoking, 17.5% [n = 27] smokeless tobacco [SLT], 6.5% [n = 10] dual use) and 7.8% (n = 12) reported former use (5.8% [n = 9] smoking, 1.3% [n = 2] SLT, 0.6% [n = 1] dual), none reported using cessation medications, two reported counseling. Cotinine levels indicating current use varied by tobacco product (smoking: 66.7% had cotinine ≥ 50ng/ml; SLT: 70.4%; dual: 80.0%, no current tobacco: 44.8%, p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Smoking and SLT use are common and underreported and evidence-based cessation treatment use was rare prior to HIV care initiation.