Emphysema is a condition in which the bronchial tubes and lungs become damaged over time, resulting in shortness of breath.
Smoking is nearly always the main cause of emphysema.
Emphysema usually does not develop until people are in their 50s or 60s. However, those reports did not compare persons infected with HIV directly with persons without HIV infection. The researchers wanted to see whether persons with HIV infection, particularly those who smoke, are at greater risk for emphysema than persons, including smokers, without HIV infection. The study included 114 persons with HIV infection. The comparison group included 44 people without HIV infection who were of similar age and who had similar smoking habits as the persons with HIV infection.