Pulmonary & Respiratory Medicine

Researchers from the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and other academic institutions discovered that males who were HIV-positive were more likely to have poor lung functioning because of their lungs' low diffusing capacity in a men.

The ability of the lungs to carry oxygen into red blood cells is gauged by diffusing capacity. Reduced exercise ability, a reduced quality of life, and an increased risk of respiratory disease have all been associated with limited diffusing capacity. There appears to be a complex link between poor lung function, HIV infection, HIV therapy, smoking, and immunological function, the researchers said, adding that the causes of changes in diffusing capacities were unknown.