Statistics of HIV Related Cancer

Executive Summary

Approximately 36.7 million people have been affected by HIV infection. NHL is generally the most common type of cancer among HIV-infected patients, while the incidence of Kaposi’s sarcoma is rare. Out of the 36.7 million population affected by HIV infection, 2.1 million people were from India. AIDS-associated cancers, such as NHL, were four times higher among HIV-infected patients than individuals without HIV infection. And so, the incidence of NHL remains the highest among HIV-infected patients. More access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) can reduce the overall cancer incidence in the Indian population. AIDS associated cancers, such as NHL, were reported to be four times higher among HIV-infected patients than individuals without HIV infection.

Globally, in 2016, 36.7 million individuals were reported to be infected with HIV. Among this, 2.1 million people were also from India. Even so, HIV associated cancers are less common, and definitive statistics for AIDS associated cancers are not available​1​. According to regional records, NHL is generally the most common type of cancer among HIV-infected patients, while the incidence of Kaposi’s sarcoma is rare.

However, a study conducted in the northern part of India observed that HIV-associated malignancies and NHL were the most common cancers among HIV-infected patients in the region. Most regional studies conducted in India concur that NHL is the most common cancer while KS is the least occurring among patients with HIV and cancer in the region. More access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) might reduce the overall cancer incidence in the Indian population.

Still, a better understanding of the cancer spectrum of HIV-positive people in India is mandatory for effective screening​2​. The incidence ratio of cancer among HIV-infected patients compared to that of the general population varies from 2 in the case of lung cancer to 498 in KS. However, the incidence of NHL remains the highest among HIV-infected patients​3,4​.

References

  1. 1.
    HIV/AIDS-Related Cancer: Statistics. HIV/AIDS-Related Cancer Guide. Published 2022. Accessed March 2022. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/hivaids-related-cancer/statistics
  2. 2.
    Sinha S, Agarwal A, Gupta K, et al. Prevalence of HIV in Patients with Malignancy and of Malignancy in HIV Patients in a Tertiary Care Center from North India. Curr HIV Res. 2018;16(4):315-320. doi:10.2174/1570162X16666181018161616
  3. 3.
    Yarchoan R, Uldrick T. HIV-Associated Cancers and Related Diseases. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(11):1029-1041. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1615896
  4. 4.
    Grulich A, Li Y, McDonald A, Correll P, Law M, Kaldor J. Decreasing rates of Kaposi’s sarcoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the era of potent combination anti-retroviral therapy. AIDS. 2001;15(5):629-633. doi:10.1097/00002030-200103300-00013