Profile and Features of Breast Cancer in HIV Positive and Negative Patients at Mankweng Academic Hospital, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Background: HIV and breast cancer are a major global burden of disease for women. There were 35 million people infected with HIV in 2013 and over 70% of whom lived in sub-Saharan Africa. Breast cancer is the leading form of cancer affecting South African women. The main aim of this study was to better understand the profile and features of breast cancer in HIV-positive and negative patients in the Limpopo province, South Africa. Methods: This is a retrospective cross sectional descriptive quantitative study designed to analyse the profile of all patients with breast cancers who attended at Mankweng Breast Oncology Clinic from July 2020 to December 2021. Results: Total of 205 patients. The HIV-positive group consisted of 43 patients and the HIV-negative group of 162 patients. Age range: 20-90 years, mean age: 51, mean age of HIV-positive group: 46.6(30-79) years and HIV-negative 52.4 (20-90) years. Early stage (0, I & II) included 46 patients and late stage (III & IV) 159 patients. In the HIV-negative group (162) patients 36(22%) presented with early stages and 126(78%) in the late stages. The HIV-positive group (43) contained 10(23%) patients in the early stage and 33(77%) in the late stage. Conclusion: In this study the mean age of HIV-positive patients was lower than the mean age of HIV-negative patients (46.6 vs 52.4). Triple negative molecular subtype breast cancer was more present in HIV-positive patients than in HIV-negative patients (24.2% vs14.4%). HIV-positive patients demonstrated a higher grade 3(47%), while HIV-negative patients had more grade 2(62%).