Prevalence and characterization of cancer in people living with HIV in Colombia

Abstract

Background: In the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, neoplasms have played a preponderant role, and with the advent of antiretroviral treatment (ART), HIV has become a chronic disease, with malignant tumors being an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Aim: To describe the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of people living with HIV who have been diagnosed with cancer in Colombia and to compare the groups of AIDS-defining (ADC) and non-AIDS-defining neoplasms (NADC). Methods: Retrospective, multicenter study that included people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) diagnosed with malignancies treated at 23 HIV care centers located in 11 Colombian cities from 1986 to 2018. Data related to HIV infection and cancer diagnosis were collected and analyzed. Results: Among 23,189 patients, 650 malignancy cases were identified (prevalence of 2.8% [95% CI 2.6–2.9]). AIDS-defining neoplasm remains the most prevalent type of cancer (71.1%), The most frequent individual malignancies were Kaposi sarcoma (n: 330; 50.8%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n: 110; 16.9%), skin cancer (n: 48; 7.4%), and Hodgkin lymphoma (n: 25; 3.8%). Compared people with NADC, with ADC were more likely to be MSM and have a CDC HIV stage 3, CD4 T cell count < 200/µL, and HIV viral load ≥ 50 copies/mL at the time of malignancy diagnosis. PLWHA and with NADC were significantly older and were more likely to be smokers. Conclusions: These findings are relevant considering the increasing burden of cancer in the aging PLWHA and the changing causes of morbidity and mortality. Late presentation to HIV care and delayed ART initiation are likely factors contributing to the slower shift toward NADCs compared with high-income regions where access to ART is better. Knowledge of the current epidemiological trends and profile of cancer in PLWHA is critical to improve cancer prevention and treatment efforts in the context of comprehensive HIV care.