Cancer Prevention Pathways in People Living with HIV: Assessment of Prevalence and Related Factors Among Individuals Attending HIV Division of Ferrara Hospital

Background. Oncological diseases are among the leading causes of death in people living with HIV (PLWH). With the introduction of antiretroviral therapy and the consequent reduction in AIDS-defining cancers (ADC), there has been a growing incidence of non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADC). Methods. A retrospective observational study (cross sectional prevalence analysis) was conducted to investigate the prevalence and spectrum of oncological diseases in patients attending the HIV/AIDS Division at the Ferrara Hospital. The sample included 534 patients evaluated between January 2023 and November 2024 (534/682 met eligibility). Demographic, clinical, and serological data were extracted from medical records. The CDC’s 2014 definition has been adopted for the ADC/NADC classification. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 29 and G*Power 3.1 software. Results. The data analysis revealed 62.8% NADC vs. 37.2% ADC (44 NADCs vs. 26 ADCs). Male individuals and those aged 50 and older were more represented. Patients with ADC more often fell into C2–C3 groups, indicative of severe immunodeficiency, while NADCs were more prevalent in clinical groups A1–B3. Statistical analysis showed that viral load was more frequently under 50 copies/mL in the NADC group, while it tended to be higher in the ADC group. Conclusions. These results align with current scientific evidence regarding the global prevalence of ADCs and NADCs. The findings highlight the need to implement targeted oncological screening strategies for HIV-positive patients to promote early diagnosis and improve prognosis.