An overlooked majority: HIV-positive gay men who smoke

Therapeutic advances have dramatically improved health outcomes and life expectancy among persons living with HIV, but gains in life expectancy achieved by antiretroviral therapy may be mitigated by other health risk behaviours. HIV-positive gay men are especially at-risk for smoking and its adverse health risks. This scoping review summarizes evidence related to HIV and smoking, paying particular attention to gay men's masculinities as a means of providing direction for tailored tobacco cessation interventions for this vulnerable group. HIV-positive gay men face challenges with managing a complex disease and its psychological and social issues require tailored tobacco cessation interventions cognisant of the diverse social contexts in which they live. Although tobacco cessation intervention research among these men is limited, we make some recommendations to guide researchers and health care providers who work with these men.