Wellness Intervention for Smoking and HIV

Cigarette smoking among adults living with HIV (ALHIV) is a significant public health problem, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality in this population. Existing smoking cessation interventions are not sufficient, as success rates are relatively low. Poor sleep is more prevalent among smokers, more prevalent among ALHIV, can be caused by smoking cessation attempts, predicts relapse to former smoking patterns, and represents a parallel pathway to morbidity including increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) among ALHIV. Thus, unhealthy sleep may make smoking cessation more difficult and increase cardiovascular risk and other poor health conditions in ALHIV. The proposed study will supplement an empirically-supported smoking cessation program (8-session, 13-week counseling program with varenicline tartrate) with a pre-determined behavioral health approach to reducing smoking intervention developed for smokers. The investigators will test the efficacy of behavioral health approach 1 versus behavioral health approach 2 as an active comparator. The investigators will also explore the impact of smoking cessation and changes in sleep on changes in inflammatory biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk. Approximately 400 ALHIV treatment seeking smokers who have no history of sleep disorders will be screened (through history, physical examination, laboratory studies and an overnight sleep test) to identify 200 eligible subjects to randomize to Intervention Approach 1 versus Intervention Approach 2. All participants will concurrently receive standard smoking cessation treatment including counseling and 12-weeks of varenicline tartrate. Screening and treatment sessions will take place at the University of Arizona's Clinical and Translational Sciences Research Center, which is well equipped with private examination rooms and phlebotomists. Successful smoking cessation will be assessed at end of therapy (13 weeks) and again 6 months later by self reports, carbon monoxide breath test, and urine and serum cotinine, a stringent objective marker of tobacco use. Sleep will be assessed through sleep diaries, questionnaires and actigraphy (activity sensors worn on the wrist). Other markers of CVD risk including lipids, 24 hour blood pressure monitoring, and HgbA1C, and biomarkers (IL-6, hsCRP, TNFalpha,ICAM-1, VCAM-1, sCD14, D-dimer) will be determined at baseline, end of therapy, and 6 months follow up. Cognitive function will be assessed through N-Back (uses images), Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT), Abstract Matching (AM), Digital Symbol Substitution Task (DSST), Visual Object Learning Task (VOLT), Motor Praxis Task (MPT), Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART), and Line Orientation Task (LOT).

Ultimately, the impact of this work will be to transform clinical guidelines for the treatment of nicotine dependence, as well as to provide insights into mechanisms by which improved sleep enhances tobacco cessation.

Inclusion criteria

• Males and females 18 -75 years;
• Documented HIV infection;
• CD4+ T cell count ≥ 200 cells/mm3;
• On stable antiretroviral therapy without intention of changing, or not on antiretroviral therapy with no immediate intention to start;
• Smoke at least 5 cigarettes/day;
• Report wanting to quit smoking in the next month;
• Have no sleep disorders (with the exception of insomnia or mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (STOP-Bang score of 4 or less; apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of less than 30);
• Able to communicate in English and provide written informed consent for study procedures;
• Able to use varenicline tartrate safely;
• Will be residing in the geographic area for at least 10 months;
• Willing to attend 8 in-person sessions and one 6-month follow up assessment.

Exclusion criteria

• Regular use of chewing tobacco, snuff, cigars, e-cigarettes, unless willing to stop;
• Current enrollment or plans to enroll in another smoking cessation program or use other smoking cessation products for the duration of the study;
• Women of childbearing potential who are pregnant, lactating, or likely to become pregnant during the trial and unwilling to use contraception during the study;
• Unstable alcohol use that precludes reliable study participation as assessed by study physician;
• Unstable drug use that precludes reliable study participation as assessed by study physician;
• Unstable mental illness that precludes reliable study participation as assessed by study physician;
• A history of a suicide attempt within the last two years, and/or current nonspecific suicidal thoughts as defined by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale;
• Unstable or untreated moderate or severe depression as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) scale. A participant with a score of ≥ 15 will be referred to one of the study's mental health clinicians (Dr. Michael Grandner or Dr. Susan Gorovoy) for further assessment of their depression
• Serious or unstable disease within the past 6 months (e.g., cancer, seizure disorder, end-stage liver disease, end-stage renal disease, uncontrolled diabetes, pulmonary disease requiring oxygen);
• Any prior history of seizure disorder within the past year;
• Unstable cardiac condition (i.e., angina, myocardial infarction, or coronary angioplasty) within the past 6 months or a clinically significant EKG that may present a health or safety risk as assessed by the study physician;
• Currently working night/rotating shift and/or use of a sleep medication, or a medication that could influence sleep;
• Prior history of adult somnambulism;
• Use of a sleep medication that will interfere with study results
• Inability to complete any of the study tasks as determined by the investigators.