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Published on: October 6, 2015
The severity of COVID-19 across the spectrum of HIV
Kathleen W Miller1, Rajesh T Gandhi
1Department of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Insights
HIV infection is an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19, especially with low CD4 counts. This underscores the importance of diagnosing and treating HIV and vaccinating people with HIV against COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
- Immunology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations.
- People with HIV (PWH) face unique challenges due to comorbidities and social determinants of health.
- Early research on HIV and COVID-19 severity yielded mixed results.
Conclusions:
- HIV infection independently increases the risk of severe COVID-19.
- Effective management of HIV and COVID-19 requires addressing comorbidities and social determinants.
- Prompt HIV diagnosis, treatment, and COVID-19 vaccination/treatment are crucial for PWH.
Purpose Of Review:
We review the intersection between the HIV and COVID-19 pandemics, particularly the impact of HIV infection on the development of severe COVID-19.
Recent Findings:
Studies early in the COVID-19 pandemic did not find a clear link between HIV infection and increased COVID-19 severity or mortality. People with HIV (PWH) were more likely to have severe COVID-19, but much of the risk for worse outcomes was related to high rates of comorbidities and social determinants of health. Although comorbidities and social determinants of health are certainly critically important reasons for severe COVID-19 among PWH, recent large studies have found HIV infection - particularly when the CD4 cell count is low or HIV RNA is not suppressed - is an independent risk factor for COVID-19 severity. The link between HIV and severe COVID-19 highlights the need to diagnose and treat HIV as well as the importance of COVID-19 vaccination and treatment among PWH.
Summary:
People with HIV have faced increased challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic because of high rates of comorbidities and social determinants of health as well as the impact of HIV on COVID-19 severity. Information on the intersection of the two pandemics has been crucial to improving care for people with HIV.
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