Impact of HIV infection on access to cancer care and survival among women with invasive cervical cancer in Côte d'Ivoire: A prospective cohort study

Objective: To assess the impact of HIV on access to invasive cervical cancer (ICC) care and overall survival (OS) in a time of universal access to antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Methods: A cohort of women prospectively diagnosed with ICC was consecutively recruited from 2018 to 2020 in public/private cancer centers in Côte d'Ivoire. Follow-up data were collected through facility- and phone-based approaches. Logistic and Cox regression models allowed analysis of factors associated with access to cancer care and OS, respectively.

Results: Overall, 294 women with ICC aged 50 years (interquartile range [IQR] 43-60) were enrolled, including 21.4% of women living with HIV (WLHIV), 87% being on ART. An advanced ICC clinical stage (III-IV) was less frequent in WLHIV (63.5% vs. 77.1% in HIV-uninfected women; P = 0.029). Cancer care was initiated in 124 (42.2%) women (54.0% in WLHIV; 39.0% in HIV-uninfected; P = 0.030). Factors independently associated with access to cancer care were International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I-II (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.58, 95% CI 2.01-6.38) and no treatment by traditional healers prior to ICC diagnosis (aOR 3.69, 95% CI 1.96-6.96). The 2-year OS was 37.9% (95% CI 30.0-47.9). HIV status was not predictive of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.98, 95% CI 0.60-1.69). An advanced clinical stage was the only measured predictor of death (aHR 1.59, 95% CI 1.02-2.47).

Conclusion: In a time of universal access to ART, HIV infection was not associated with OS among women with ICC in Côte d'Ivoire. Higher access to cancer care in WLHIV might be mediated by enhanced access to ICC screening services, supporting the need to expand these services to other types of healthcare facilities.