Comparison of the prevalence of oral lesions in patients living with HIV between 2002 and 2022: a single-center retrospective cross-sectional study

Introduction: The care of patients living with human immunodeficiency virus has improved in recent decades, and the incidence of infections and tumors encountered in these patients has evolved. The present study aims to describe the prevalence of oral lesions in 2002 and 2022 in the same center. Materials and methods: Adult patients living with human immunodeficiency virus followed in our department were enrolled from 1999 to 2002 (retrospectively) and from October 2021 to April 2022 (prospectively). Results: In the early 2000s, 62 patients living with human immunodeficiency virus were included and 112 in 2022. The two samples were homogeneous with respect to sex, use of tobacco and drugs. Age, alcohol consumption, and access to antiretroviral treatment increased significantly between the two periods. Overall, the disease was better controlled with more patients having a lymphocyte T CD4 level > 350/mm3 (p<0.001) and an undetectable viral load (p<0.001). We found 63 lesions in 62 patients living with human immunodeficiency virus in the early 2000s, and 23 lesions in 22 patients in 2022. Between the two periods, there was a significant decrease in immunosuppression-related lesions (p<0.001), notably oropharyngeal candidiasis (n=46/63 vs n=2/23), but an increase in lesions with malignant potential (n=0/63 vs. n=4/23). Conclusion: Fewer opportunist lesions were seen in 2022 than in 2002 but they were more worrying in terms of severity.