Brogden DRL, Kontovounisios C, Mandalia S, et al. - In view of the rapidly increasing incidence of anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) and the relevance of HIV as a risk factor in the development of ASCC, researchers sought to compare patients residing high HIV prevalence areas vs average HIV prevalence areas in England with respect to their demographics and incidence of ASCC.

• Following the ‘Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology’ statement, this cross-sectional study was conducted.

• The Cancer Outcomes and Services Dataset was used to retrieve demographic data and incidence rates of ASCC within Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) between 2013 and 2018.

• More frequently, patients in high HIV areas were young and male with higher levels of social deprivation.

• Between 2013 and 2017, higher incidence rates were recorded in men in high HIV areas than average HIV areas with a rapidly rising incidence rate in early-stage disease and a 79.1% decrease in incidence of metastatic stage 4 disease.

• There was a lower ASCC incidence among women in high HIV areas than the national average along with a low incidence of early-stage disease.

• However, since 2013, metastatic disease in women had quintupled in incidence in high HIV areas.

• Overall different demographics were recorded for patients presenting with ASCC in high HIV geographical areas vs average HIV geographical areas; this may be due to the screening programs for PLWH in high HIV areas.