Malignancies in individuals living with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Background. The incidence of malignancy is heightened in individuals infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Despite a decrease in the incidence of HIV infection resulting from antiretroviral therapy (ART), the prevalence of HIV-associated malignancies remains substantial. Objective. Our objective was to examine the types of cancer that initially manifest in individuals infected with HIV or emerge during their subsequent observation period. Material and method. The study conducted a retrospective analysis of demographic characteristics, malignancy types, presenting symptoms, mode of transmission, HIV-RNA levels, and CD4/CD8 ratios in individuals living with HIV who developed malignancies and were under follow-up at the Infectious Diseases Polyclinic between October 2018 and December 2022. Results. Out of the 465 patients who were monitored during the study, 27 individuals (5.8%) were diagnosed with various malignancies. Among these patients, 22 (81%) were men and 5 (19%) were women. The average age of the patients ranged from 45.87 to 9.12 years. Among the patients, 17 (63%) were married and 10 (17%) were single. In terms of education, 16 patients (59.3%) had completed primary school, 7 patients (25.9%) were university graduates, and 4 patients (14.8%) had completed high school. The mode of HIV transmission in all patients was through sexual intercourse. The reasons for testing varied, with 8 patients (29.7%) being tested due to fever, 6 patients (22.2%) before undergoing surgery, 3 patients (11.1%) due to weight loss, and 2 patients (7.4%) tested for reasons such as job application, diarrhea, pre-blood donation, lymphadenomegaly, and dysphagia. The most common types of malignancies observed in the patients were non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) with 11 cases (40.7%), followed by Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) with 5 cases (18.5%), and cervical carcinoma with 3 cases (11.1%). Conclusion. The incidence of cancer is higher among individuals with HIV. There is a need to enhance the awareness among both healthcare providers who specialize in HIV care and those who do not.