Kumara Singaravelu¹, Alvaro Carrascal, MD, MPH², P.Clay Stephens, PhD³, Dennis Tsui¹, and Thomas Chesnut¹. (1) School of Public Health, University at Albany, SUNY, One University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, 518-588-3703, ks7615@albany.edu, (2) New York State Department of Health - AIDS Institute, Office of the Medical Director, ESP-Tower Room 259, Albany, NY 12237, (3) Bureau of HIV/AIDS Epidemiology, New York State Department of Health, 1400 Washington Av, Albany, NY 12222

Background: Recent studies have shown the changing epidemiology of cancers in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), since the advent of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) in late 1996. This study on the SPARCS (Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System) hospital discharge data and the Medicaid claims data is to observe the trends of these cancers amongst PLWHA in New York State.

Methods: Hospital discharges with ICD-9 diagnoses for HIV/AIDS and malignancies were extracted for the years 1994-2002 from SPARCS and using existing screening protocols, Medicaid recipients with HIV/AIDS and malignancies were identified for the years 1993-2001. The years 1996 and before were classified as pre-HAART, and the years 1997 and after, as post –HAART for further analysis. Rates were calculated per 100,000 hospitalizations with HIV/AIDS for the SPARCS data and per 100,000 Medicaid recipients with HIV/AIDS for the Medicaid claims data.

Results: In both the databases, significant decline in rates was observed for AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma, while invasive cervical carcinoma and non-AIDS related cancers of the colon, anus, liver, pancreas, lung, larynx, female breast, prostate, Hodgkin’s disease and multiple myeloma showed significant increases in the post- HAART period.

Conclusions: With PLWHA living longer, non-AIDS related cancers may be an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. PLWHA, clinicians and policy makers need to be made aware of these changing risks in PLWHA to institute appropriate screening and prevention measures.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant should be able to understand the growing importance of non-AIDS defining cancers as a cause of morbidity and mortality in people living with HIV/AIDS in New York State, since the introduction of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART).

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.