Statistical analysis

Categorical variables were compared using the Fisher’s exact test and continuous variables were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The non-linear trends of the age-sex-standardised prevalence in each population group across calendar years (2001 to 2012) were examined using generalised non-linear models assuming a beta distribution and a logit link function (ie, beta regression).³³ We modelled the prevalence of each comorbidity separately in PLWH and in HIV-negative controls, with year as an explanatory variable. Restricted maximum likelihood was used to estimate parameters in these models. The cumulative rate of healthcare encounters was summarised using Poisson regression. All p values are two‐sided and the level of significance was set at 5%. Analyses were performed SAS V.9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina, USA) and R Software V.3.5.2 (R Core Team, Vienna, Austria).