Effects of telehealth-integrated interventions for smoking cessation and alcohol reduction among people living with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

What was studied

This review looked at telehealth for people living with HIV (PLWH). It covered quitting smoking and drinking less. Earlier reviews looked at smoking or alcohol alone. The team searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane, plus Web of Science, to April 1, 2026. They pooled randomized trials of tobacco or alcohol programs. GRADE was used to rate certainty.

What they found

2,212 people from the trials were pooled. Telehealth packages gave higher 7-day quit rates, with a risk ratio of 2.07. The 30-day quit rate ratio was 2.04. Limited evidence pointed to fewer drinks per drinking day, by 0.33 on average. Drinking days in the past 30 days showed no clear gap. The smoking effect was larger at 3 months or less.

What it means for patients

The authors said telehealth programs may improve short-term quitting in PLWH. They said these programs may also cut drinks per drinking day. They said evidence on alcohol outcomes remains limited. They said more well-powered trials with longer follow-up are needed.

Why it is not certain yet

Evidence on alcohol outcomes was limited. The follow-up subgroup result was exploratory. No clear gap across telehealth types does not show equal effect. How long quitting benefits last is still unclear. A pooled review depends on how alike the trials are.

Source

Effects of telehealth-integrated interventions for smoking cessation and alcohol reduction among people living with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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