ArticlePloS one2023
Isolated abnormal diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (iso↓DLco) is associated with increased respiratory symptom burden in people with HIV infection.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus on Lung Function and Structure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Annals of the American Thoracic Society · 2025Pooled it
- Personal PM2.5 exposure and lung function among adults with and without HIV who have recovered from pneumonia in Kampala, Uganda.Annals of the American Thoracic Society · 2026Article
- Recurrent episodes of pneumonia are associated with worse lung function in people with HIV.PloS one · 2026Article
- Greater ambient air pollution exposure is associated with worse respiratory symptoms in men and women with HIV and chronic lung disease: a cohort study.Respiratory research · 2025Article
- Moderate to Severe Impairment of DlAnnals of the American Thoracic Society · 2025Article
- Brief Report: Sex and HIV Modify Immune Activation Biomarkers in Ugandans Post-Tuberculosis.Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) · 2025Article
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in People with HIV: an Evidence-Based Review.HIV/AIDS (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2025Review
- Lung function and health-related quality of life among adult patients following pulmonary TB treatment.The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease · 2024Article
- COPD in People with HIV: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Management, and Prevention Strategies.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
18 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesAn isolated reduction in the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco; iso↓DLco) is one of the most common pulmonary function test (PFT) abnormalities in people living with HIV (PWH), but its clinical implications are incompletely understood. In this study, we explored whether iso↓DLco in PWH is associated with a greater respiratory symptom burden. STUDY
designCross-sectional analysis.
methodsWe used ATS/ERS compliant PFTs from PWH with normal spirometry (post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ≥0.7; FEV1, FVC ≥80% predicted) from the I AM OLD cohort in San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA, grouped by DLco categorized as normal (DLco ≥lower limit of normal, LLN), mild iso↓DLco (LLN >DLco >60% predicted), and moderate-severe iso↓DLco (DLco ≤60% predicted). We performed multivariable analyses to test for associations between DLco and validated symptom-severity and quality of life questionnaires, including the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (mMRC), the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), as well as between DLco and individual CAT symptoms.
resultsMild iso↓DLco was associated only with a significantly higher SGRQ score. Moderate-severe iso↓DLco was associated with significantly higher odds of mMRC ≥2 and significantly higher CAT and SGRQ scores. PWH with moderate-severe iso↓DLco had increased odds of breathlessness, decreased activity, lower confidence leaving home, and less energy.
conclusionsIso↓DLco is associated with worse respiratory symptom scores, and this association becomes stronger with worsening DLco, suggesting that impaired gas exchange alone has a significant negative impact on the quality of life in PWH. Additional studies are ongoing to understand the etiology of this finding and design appropriate interventions.
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