The risk of non-melanoma skin cancer in HIV-infected patients: New data and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The role of HIV/AIDS in non-melanoma skin cancer is not well defined. OBJECTIVES: We sought to update the evidence of the association between HIV/AIDS and risk of non-melanoma skin cancer by gender and highly active antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE on 29 February 2014. Standardised incidence ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were extracted and combined using generic inverse variance methods assuming a random effects model. RESULTS: Six studies including 78,794 patients with HIV/AIDS fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Analysis of all studies showed that HIV/AIDS was associated with an increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer (standardised incidence ratio 2.76; 95% confidence interval 2.55-2.98). The standardised incidence ratios of non-melanoma skin cancer were 3.63 (1.08-12.22) for men and 2.18 (1.24-3.83) for women with HIV/AIDS, respectively. In analysis stratified by highly active antiretroviral therapy, we found that individuals receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy had lower risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer than individuals who had not received highly active antiretroviral therapy (standardised incidence ratio, 95% confidence interval; 1.95 [1.10-3.47] versus 2.11 [1.44-3.12]). CONCLUSIONS: HIV/AIDS is associated with an increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer in both men and women patients. The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy appears to be beneficial in protecting against the development of non-melanoma skin cancer.

• Population(s)
  • General HIV+ population
• Engagement and Care Cascade
  • Treatment
• Co-morbidities
  • Cancer