LINKAGE OF AIDS AND CANCER REGISTRIES IN ITALY

We report the first results of a comparison between the Italian Regist ry on AIDS (RAIDS) and 13 population-based cancer registries (about 8 million population in 1991) with respect to the notification of Kaposi 's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Routine indicators of data qual ity and completeness have been found in both types of registry, consis tent with the best international standards. A linkage process was carr ied out on about 339,000 cancer notifications and 3,134 AIDS notificat ions and was herein restricted to individuals under the age of 50. Out of 243 Kaposi's sarcomas at either type of registry, 90 (37%) were re ported as such by both; 68% of individuals with Kaposi's sarcoma at ca ncer registries could be identified at the AIDS registry, including AI DS-defining illnesses other than Kaposi's sarcoma; 62% of individuals with Kaposi's sarcoma at RAIDS could be found at cancer registries. Of 2,104 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas at either type of registry, 55 were rep orted as such by both; 65% of individuals reported as having non-Hodgk in's lymphoma at the AIDS registry were found at cancer registries. Ou r present results indicate the scope for improving cancer assessment i n individuals with HIV infection and AIDS and the potential of AIDS an d cancer registries for such a purpose. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.