Cancer prevalence and prognosis among individuals living with HIV and AIDS in Turkey: Multicenter BUHASDER study

BackgroundThis multicentre study evaluated the prevalence, distribution, and risk factors of cancer among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Turkey over two decades. Mortality rates and factors were also investigated.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included 154 adults diagnosed with cancer and HIV between 2008 and 2024. Data were collected from the medical records. The demographics, clinical characteristics, cancer types, treatments, and outcomes were evaluated. The risk factors for ADCs and mortality were defined using multivariate logistic regression and Cox regression. The estimated survival time was determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis.ResultsAmong 8708 PLWH, cancer prevalence was 1.8% (95% CI:1.5-2). ADCs (66.9%) were twice as frequent as NADCs (33.1%). Most prevalent cancers were non-Hodgkin lymphoma (35.1%), Kaposi sarcoma (29.9%), and lung cancer (7.8%). Age ≤54 years, CD4 + T lymphocyte count ≤94/mm³, and HHV-8 co-infection were risk factors for ADCs. Mortality rate was 32%. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and CD4 + T lymphocyte count ≤232/mm³ at treatment completion predicted mortality. The 3-years overall survival rate was 67.6%.ConclusionsThis study offers insights into cancer burden among PLWH in Turkey. High rates of ADCs and mortality highlight the importance of early HIV diagnosis and antiretroviral therapy access to reduce cancer burden in this population.