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

The role of HIV/AIDS in non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is not well defined. We sought to update the evidence of the association between HIV/AIDS and risk of NMSC by gender and antiretroviral therapy (ART). 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. 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 NMSC (standardised incidence ratio 2.76; 95% confidence interval 2.55–2.98). The standardised incidence ratios of NMSC 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 ART, we found that individuals receiving ART had lower risk of developing NMSC than individuals who had not received ART (standardised incidence ratio, 95% confidence interval; 1.95 [1.10–3.47] versus 2.11 [1.44-3.12]). HIV/AIDS is associated with an increased risk of NMSC in both male and female patients. The use of ART appears to be beneficial in protecting against the development of NMSC.