2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - Posters-P3.01D.04 Disparities in Lung Cancer Risk Assessment for People Living with HIV

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The study addresses disparities in lung cancer risk assessments among people living with HIV (PLWH), recognizing an increased incidence of non-AIDS defining malignancies such as lung cancer, which remains the top cancer-related cause of death in this group. The primary focus is on the Vanderbilt Lung Screening Program (VLSP), which follows USPSTF guidelines and employs low-dose CT scans for lung screening. The study utilizes the PLCOm2012 algorithm to calculate personalized lung cancer risk scores for patients, considering factors such as age, race, sex, education, BMI, family history, personal cancer history, COPD, smoking status, and pack-years.<br /><br />A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single institution, analyzing data from 4,233 patients over six years. Findings indicated that PLWH had a statistically significant lower median risk score for lung cancer compared to those without HIV, yet showed an increased rate of lung cancer diagnosis. The HIV-positive group had a median risk score of 2.2, contrasted with 2.7 for the HIV-negative cohort. Despite this, the likelihood of lung cancer diagnosis was nearly 50% greater among PLWH, although this was not statistically significant, highlighting a need for further investigation.<br /><br />The study suggests that HIV may be an independent risk factor for lung cancer, meaning current screening guidelines might inadequately cover PLWH. The data underscore the importance of specially tailored lung screening programs for this population. Limitations include a small sample size and the reliance on data from one institution, suggesting the necessity for broader studies to verify these findings and adjust screening practices accordingly. Future directions include emphasizing lung cancer screening among HIV-positive individuals and further exploring the connection between HIV and lung cancer.

Asset Subtitle

Savanah Hardcastle

Meta Tag

Speaker Savanah Hardcastle

Topic Risk Factors, Risk Reduction & Tobacco Control

Keywords

lung cancer

HIV

disparities

non-AIDS defining malignancies

Vanderbilt Lung Screening Program

USPSTF guidelines

low-dose CT scans

PLCOm2012 algorithm

personalized risk scores

screening guidelines