Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and HIV: are we appropriately screening?

COPD in People with HIV: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Management, and Prevention Strategies

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory disorder characterized by airflow limitation and persistent respiratory symptoms. People with HIV (PWH) are particularly vulnerable to COPD development; PWH have demonstrated both higher rates of COPD and an earlier and more rapid decline in lung function than their seronegative counterparts, even after accounting for differences in cigarette smoking. Factors contributing to this HIV-associated difference include chronic immune activation and inflammation, accelerated aging, a predilection for pulmonary infections, alterations in the lung microbiome, and the interplay between HIV and inhalational toxins. In this review, we discuss what is known about the epidemiology and pathobiology of COPD among PWH and outline screening, diagnostic, prevention, and treatment strategies.

Pathogenesis and management of emphysema in people with HIV

INTRODUCTION

Since early in the HIV epidemic, emphysema has been identified among people with HIV (PWH) and has been associated with increased mortality. Smoking cessation is key to risk reduction. Health maintenance for PWH and emphysema should ensure appropriate vaccination and lung cancer screening. Treatment should adhere to inhaler guidelines for the general population, but inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) should be used with caution. Frontiers in treatment include targeted therapeutics. Major knowledge gaps exist in the epidemiology of and optimal care for PWH and emphysema, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMIC).

AREAS COVERED

Topics addressed include risk factors, pathogenesis, current treatment and prevention strategies, and frontiers in research.

EXPERT OPINION

There are limited data on the epidemiology of emphysema in LMIC, where more than 90% of deaths from COPD occur and where the morbidity of HIV is most heavily concentrated. The population of PWH is aging, and age-related co-morbidities such as emphysema will only increase in salience. Over the next 5 years, the authors anticipate novel trials of targeted therapy for emphysema specific to PWH, and we anticipate a growing body of evidence to inform optimal clinical care for lung health among PWH in LMIC.

Diagnosis and Management of HIV-Associated Pulmonary Diseases in a Ryan White-Funded Primary Care Setting

Despite widespread use of antiretroviral therapy (ART), people with HIV (PWH) continue to suffer substantial morbidity and mortality from pulmonary diseases. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of pulmonary symptoms, evaluations, and diagnoses (both infectious and noninfectious) among PWH receiving care at one of the largest HIV clinics in the United States. All PWH seen at the Infectious Disease Program in Atlanta, Georgia, from July 2013 to June 2018 were included. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the odds of all-cause mortality. Among 8387 patients, median age was 48 years, 35% had documented smoking, 74% were male, and the 47% with ≥1 pulmonary symptom or diagnosis were older and had higher rates of smoking compared to those without any symptoms or diagnoses (p-values <0.0001). Percent on ART was 97% and 81% for individuals with and without symptoms or diagnoses, respectively (p-value <0.0001). Patients with an infectious diagnosis were more likely to have a diagnostic test ordered than those with a noninfectious diagnosis (p-value <0.0001). After adjustment for demographic and clinical risk factors, odds of death were 2.1 times greater [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3-3.5] among those with a pulmonary symptom or diagnosis compared to those without. Despite a high prevalence of pulmonary symptoms and diagnoses in this large cohort of PWH, many did not have a complete diagnostic evaluation, particularly those with noninfectious diagnoses. Greater awareness of evaluation and treatment of noninfectious pulmonary diseases among HIV care providers will be critical to improving long-term outcomes for PWH.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in HIV

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is more prevalent in people with HIV (PWH) than in the general population and leads to an increased burden of morbidity and mortality in this population. The mechanisms behind COPD development and progression in PWH are not fully elucidated, and there are no PWH-specific guidelines for COPD management. Areas covered: The goal of this broad narrative review is to review the epidemiology of COPD in PWH globally, highlight proposed pathways contributing to increased COPD prevalence and progression in PWH, discuss structural and functional changes in the lungs in this population, assesses the excess mortality and comorbidities in PWH with COPD, and address management practices for this unique population. Expert opinion: Understanding how a chronic viral infection leads to COPD, independent of cigarette smoking, is of critical scientific importance. Further research should focus on the pathophysiology of the interaction between HIV and COPD, and determine the role of disease-modifying risk factors such as opportunistic pneumonia and air pollution, as well as generate data from randomized clinical trials on the safety and efficacy of specific therapies for this vulnerable patient population.

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the global population with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the concept has been raised that people with HIV are at risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because of HIV infection. However, much remains to be understood about the relationship between COPD and HIV infection. We aimed to investigate this association by assessing studies that reported the prevalence of COPD in the global population with HIV.

METHODS

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we assessed observational studies of COPD in people with HIV. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Global Index Medicus, with no language restriction, to identify articles published until June 21, 2017, and we searched the reference lists of the retrieved articles. Eligible studies reported the prevalence of COPD or had enough data to compute these estimates. We excluded studies in subgroups of participants selected on the basis of the presence of COPD; studies that were limited to other specific groups or populations, such as people with other chronic respiratory diseases; and case series, letters, reviews, commentaries, editorials, and studies without primary data or an explicit description of methods. The main outcome assessed was prevalence of COPD. Each study was independently reviewed for methodological quality. We used a random-effects model to pool individual studies and assessed heterogeneity (I²) using the χ² test on Cochrane's Q statistic. This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016052639.

FINDINGS

Of 4036 studies identified, we included 30 studies (151 686 participants) from all WHO regions in the meta-analysis of COPD prevalence. 23 studies (77%) had low risk of bias, six (20%) had moderate risk of bias, and one (3%) had high risk of bias in their methodological quality. The overall prevalence of COPD was 10·5% (95% CI 6·2-15·7; I²=97·2%; six studies) according to the lower limit of normal definition of COPD, and 10·6% (6·9-15·0; 94·7%; 16 studies) according to the fixed-ratio definition. COPD prevalence was higher in Europe and among current and ever smokers, and increased with level of income and proportion of participants with detectable HIV viral load. Prevalence of COPD was significantly higher in patients with HIV than in HIV-negative controls (pooled odds ratio 1·14, 95% CI 1·05-1·25, I²=63·5%; 11 studies), even after adjustment for tobacco consumption (2·58, 1·05-6·35, 74·9%; four studies).

INTERPRETATION

Our findings suggest a high prevalence of COPD in the global population with HIV, and an association with HIV. As such, COPD deserves more attention from HIV health-care providers, researchers, policy makers, and stakeholders for improved detection, overall proper management, and efficient control of COPD in people with HIV. Efforts to address this burden should focus on promoting the decrease of tobacco consumption and adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy to reduce viral load.

FUNDING

None.

The Role of Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1 in the Progression of HIV/AIDS and Development of Non-AIDS-Defining Fibrotic Disorders

Even after attainment of sustained viral suppression following implementation of highly active antiretroviral therapy, HIV-infected persons continue to experience persistent, low-grade, systemic inflammation. Among other mechanisms, this appears to result from ongoing microbial translocation from a damaged gastrointestinal tract. This HIV-related chronic inflammatory response is paralleled by counteracting, but only partially effective, biological anti-inflammatory processes. Paradoxically, however, this anti-inflammatory response not only exacerbates immunosuppression but also predisposes for development of non-AIDS-related, non-communicable disorders. With respect to the pathogenesis of both sustained immunosuppression and the increased frequency of non-AIDS-related disorders, the anti-inflammatory/profibrotic cytokine, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), which remains persistently elevated in both untreated and virally suppressed HIV-infected persons, may provide a common link. In this context, the current review is focused on two different, albeit related, harmful activities of TGF-β1 in HIV infection. First, on the spectrum of anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive activities of TGF-β1 and the involvement of this cytokine, derived predominantly from T regulatory cells, in driving disease progression in HIV-infected persons via both non-fibrotic and profibrotic mechanisms. Second, the possible involvement of sustained elevations in circulating and tissue TGF-β1 in the pathogenesis of non-AIDS-defining cardiovascular, hepatic, pulmonary and renal disorders, together with a brief comment on potential TGF-β1-targeted therapeutic strategies.