Correlations between new HIV infections and hospital admissions for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Brazil

Despite advancements in antiretroviral therapy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections remain a significant global health challenge. With increasing life expectancy among people living with HIV, the emergence of HIV-related malignancies, notably non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), has become a prominent concern. This study aims to investigate the correlation between new HIV infections and NHL hospitalizations in Brazil from 2010 to 2022. Using an ecological time series design, data from authoritative sources, including the Notifiable Diseases Information System and the Department of Unified Health System Informatics, were analyzed. The study cohort comprised individuals admitted to the Brazilian Unified Health System, categorized by geographical region, sex, and age cohorts. Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients were utilized to examine the correlation between new HIV infections and NHL hospitalizations. Our analysis revealed a strong positive and statistically significant correlation between the incidence of new HIV cases and NHL hospitalizations in Brazil (r = 0.8901; p = .0001) and in most regions (r > 0.80; p < .001). Moreover, our findings indicate that this correlation becomes evident from the age of 15 onward, with a discernible tendency to escalate with advancing age from moderate to very strong (r > 0.62; p < .02). Regarding sex, the observed correlations were strong positive for male (r = 0.8681; p = .0003) and female (r = 0.7912; p = .0020). These results underscore the importance of vigilant monitoring for individuals living with HIV. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of rigorous screening practices and adherence to antiretroviral therapy, which may hold promising implications for managing neoplastic conditions.