The characteristics of HIV-positive patients with mild/asymptomatic and moderate/severe course of COVID-19 disease – a report from Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

Background There is currently no evidence suggesting that COVID-19 takes a different course in HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral treatment compared to the general population. However, little is known about the relation between specific HIV-related factors and the severity of the COVID-19 disease. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of cases collected through an on-line survey distributed by the Euroguidelines in Central and Eastern Europe Network Group. In statistical analyses characteristics of HIV-positive patients asymptomatic/moderate and moderate/severe course were compared. Results In total 34 HIV-positive patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were reported by 12 countries (Estonia, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Albania, Belarus, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Russia, Hungary, Bulgaria). Asymptomatic courses of COVID-19 were reported in four (12%) cases, 11 (32%) patients presented with mild disease not requiring hospitalization, moderate disease with respiratory and/or systemic symptoms was observed in 14 (41%) cases, and severe disease with respiratory failure was found in five (15%) patients. The only HIV-related characteristics differentiating a moderate/severe course of the disease from asymptomatic/mild disease course was the use of or PI or NNRTI as part of the cART regimen (40.0% vs. 5.3%, p=0.0129 for PI and 31.6 % vs. 0.0%, p= 0.0239 for NNRTI ). Conclusions In our analyses HIV viral suppression and immunological status were not playing a role in the course of COVID-19 disease. On the contrary the cART regimen could contribute to severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Large and prospective studies are necessary to further investigate this relations.

COVID-19 Burden on HIV Patients Attending Antiretroviral Therapy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

“…The patient living with HIV had great concerns about whether they are at high risk for the pandemic and the worse outcomes if they get infected with COVID-19. Research ndings on these concerns have been in agreement with previous studies conducted elsewhere [18,19,[33][34][35][36]. Studies indicated that though the pandemic affected the health care for all disease conditions, chronic patients such as people living with HIV are likely to be uniquely vulnerable [4,37,38].…”

Acute Pancreatitis as Clinical Presentation of COVID-19 in a Patient With HIV Infection – a Case Report.

“…Although antiretroviral drug-induced pancreatitis can be observed in HIV-positive patients, it is highly unlikely in presented case as the patient was on well tolerated cART since 2016 (10). Whether and to what extent HIV remains a factor in the course and clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unknown (11).…”

Self-testing for HIV among partners of newly diagnosed HIV persons – the pilot program of Test and Keep in Care (TAK) project

“…Ograniczenia w dostępie do opieki medycznej w czasie pandemii SARS-CoV-2 przełożyły się także na dostęp do diagnostyki w kierunku HIV (1,2). Od marca do czerwca 2020 wszystkie Punkty Konsultacyjno-Diagnostyczne, gdzie wykonywane są bezpłatne i anonimowe testy w kierunku HIV, były zamknięte.…”

“…Restricted access to healthcare during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic also translated to limited access to HIV testing (1,2). From March to June 2020, all Counselling and Testing Centres that offer free and anonymous HIV tests were closed.…”