A Systematic Review: Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Morbidity, Mortality, and Viral Suppression in Patients Living With HIV

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and associated factors among people living with HIV in Sierra Leone

BACKGROUND

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is an important risk factor for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), but data on the prevalence of COVID-19 among people living with HIV (PLWH) is limited in low-income countries. Our aim was to assess the seroprevalence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) specific antibodies and associated factors among PLWH in Sierra Leone.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of PLWH aged 18 years or older in Sierra Leone between August 2022 and January 2023. Participants were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using a rapid SARS-CoV-2 antibody (immunoglobulin M/immunoglobulin G [IgG]) kits. Stepwise logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence with a significance level of p < .05.

RESULTS

In our study, 33.4% (1031/3085) participants had received a COVID-19 vaccine, and 75.7% were SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive. Higher IgG seroprevalence was observed in females (77.2% vs. 71.4%, p = .001), adults over 60 years (88.2%), those with suppressed HIV RNA (80.7% vs. 51.7%, p < .001), antiretroviral therapy (ART)-experienced individuals (77.9% vs. 44.6%, p < .001), and vaccinated participants (80.7% vs. 73.2%, p < .001). Patients 60 years or older had the highest odds of IgG seroprevalence (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.68-4.65). Female sex (aOR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.05-1.56), COVID-19 vaccination (aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.27-1.86), and ART (aOR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.56-3.11) increased the odds, whereas HIV RNA ≥ 1000 copies/mL (aOR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.26-0.40) reduced the odds of IgG seroprevalence.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody among PLWH in Sierra Leone. We recommend the introduction of targeted vaccination for PLWH with a high risk of severe COVID-19, especially those with an unsuppressed HIV viral load.

Viral Load Suppression in People Living with HIV Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brooklyn, New York

Consistent care is crucial for the health maintenance of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PWH). The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic disrupted patient care in New York City (NYC), yet few studies investigated the association between COVID-19 and viral load suppression in PWH in NYC. This study aims to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted HIV viral load and CD4 + T-cell counts in PWH. Medical records of 1130 adult HIV patients who visited the Special Treatment and Research Health Center in Brooklyn, NY, between January 2019 and May 2023 were compared across three timeframes (pre-pandemic, January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019; first pandemic phase, March 19, 2020 to December 31, 2020; and second pandemic phase, January 1, 2021 to May 11, 2023). Demographic and clinical variables (e.g. viral load and CD4 + T cell count) were assessed. About 40% of patients did not have routine laboratory monitoring during the first pandemic phase compared with pre-pandemic. The mean HIV viral load was higher during the second pandemic phase compared with pre-pandemic (p = 0.009). The percentages of patients with undetectable HIV viral load and numbers (mm3) of CD4 + T-cells were similar for all time periods. These findings indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated challenges for individuals who already had barriers to medication adherence or access. However, most individuals remained consistently on their antiretrovirals throughout the pandemic. Further studies are warranted to determine how to mitigate the impact of future pandemics for the health of PWH.

Emerging from the shadows: Trends in HIV ambulatory care, viral load testing, and viral suppression in a U.S. HIV cohort, 2019-2022: Impact of COVID-19 pandemic

This article aimed at analyzing the acute impact and the longer-term recovery of COVID-19 pandemic effects on clinical encounter types, HIV viral load (VL) testing, and suppression (HIV VL < 200 copies/mL). This study was a longitudinal cohort study of participants seen during 2019-2022 at nine HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) sites. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) estimated monthly rates of all encounters, office and telemedicine visits, and HIV VL tests using 2010-2022 data. We examined factors associated with nonsuppressed VL (VL ≥ 200 copies/mL) and not having ambulatory care visits during the pandemic using GLMM for logistic regression with 2017-2022 and 2019-2022 data, respectively. Of 2351 active participants, 76.0% were male, 57.6% aged ≥ 50 years, 40.7% non-Hispanic White, 38.2% non-Hispanic Black, 17.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 51.0% publicly insured. The monthly rates of in-person and telemedicine visits varied during 2020 through mid-year 2022. Multivariable logistic regression showed that persons with no encounters were more likely to be male or have VL ≥ 200 copies/mL. For participants with ≥1 VL test, the prevalence rate of HIV VL ≥ 200 copies/mL during 2020 was close to the rates from 2014 to 2019. The change in probability of viral suppression was not associated with participant's age, sex, race/ethnicity, or insurance type. In the HOPS, overall patient encounters declined over 2 years during the pandemic with variations in telemedicine and in-person events, with relative maintenance of viral suppression. Ongoing recovery from the impact of COVID-19 on ambulatory care will require continued efforts to improve retention and patient access to medical services.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV service delivery and viral suppression: Findings from the SHARP program in Northern Nigeria

During the COVID-19 pandemic, HIV programs scaled up differentiated service delivery (DSD) models for people living with HIV (PLHIV). We evaluated the effects of COVID-19 on HIV service delivery and viral suppression in facilities in Northern Nigeria, and determined factors associated with viral suppression among adolescents and adults. We analysed a cross-sectional survey data from facility heads, and retrospective, routinely collected patient data from 63 facilities for PLHIV ≥10 years old in care between April 2019-March 2021, defining study periods as "pre-COVID-19" (before April 2020) and "during COVID-19" (after April 2020). For the pre-COVID and the COVID-19 periods we compared uptake of antiretroviral therapy (ART) refills of ≥3 months (MMD3), and ≥6 months (MM6), missed appointments, viral load (VL) testing, VL testing turnaround time (TAT) and viral suppression among those on ART for ≥6 months using two proportions Z-test and t-tests. We fit a multivariable logistic regression model to determine factors associated with maintaining or achieving viral suppression. Of 84,776 patients, 58% were <40 years, 67% were female, 55% on ART for >5 years, 93% from facilities with community-based ART refill, a higher proportion were on MMD3 (95% versus 74%, p<0.001) and MMD6 (56% versus 22%, p<0.001) during COVID-19 than pre-COVID-19, and a higher proportion had VL testing during COVID-19 (55,271/69,630, [84%]) than pre-COVID-19 (47,747/68,934, [73%], p<0.001). Viral suppression was higher during COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-COVID era (93% [51,196/55,216] versus 91% [43,336/47,728], p<0.001), and there was a higher proportion of missed visits (40% [28,923/72,359] versus 39% [26,304/67,365], p<0.001) and increased VL TAT (mean number of days: 38 versus 36, p<0.001) during COVID-19 pandemic and pre-COVID period respectively. Factors associated with maintaining or achieving suppression during COVID-19 were receiving MMD3 and MMD6 refills (OR: 2.8 [95% CI: 2.30-3.47] and OR: 6.3 [95% CI: 5.11-7.69], respectively) and attending clinics with community-based ART refill (OR: 1.6 [95% CI: 1.39-1.87]). The program in Northern Nigeria demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic and adoption of MMD had a positive impact on HIV care. Though VL TAT and missed clinic visits slightly increased during the pandemic, VL testing improved and viral suppression moved closer to 95%. Adoption of MMD and community-based models of care at scale are recommended for future pandemic preparedness.

The immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in people with HIV

This review examines the intersection of the HIV and SARS-CoV-2 pandemics. People with HIV (PWH) are a heterogeneous group that differ in their degree of immune suppression, immune reconstitution, and viral control. While COVID-19 in those with well-controlled HIV infection poses no greater risk than that for HIV-uninfected individuals, people with advanced HIV disease are more vulnerable to poor COVID-19 outcomes. COVID-19 vaccines are effective and well tolerated in the majority of PWH, though reduced vaccine efficacy, breakthrough infections and faster waning of vaccine effectiveness have been demonstrated in PWH. This is likely a result of suboptimal humoral and cellular immune responses after vaccination. People with advanced HIV may also experience prolonged infection that may give rise to new epidemiologically significant variants, but initiation or resumption of antiretroviral therapy (ART) can effectively clear persistent infection. COVID-19 vaccine guidelines reflect these increased risks and recommend prioritization for vaccination and additional booster doses for PWH who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. We recommend continued research and monitoring of PWH with SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in areas with a high HIV burden.

The 'pulmonary diseases spectrum' in HIV infected children

Despite advances in diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive strategies for HIV, pulmonary diseases continue to be the major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and children infected with HIV. With effective programs to prevent perinatal HIV-1 transmission to early diagnosis in infants, we have seen a substantial decline in paediatric HIV incidence. Early initiation of Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) in all HIV infected children coupled with consistent use of Pneumocystis prophylaxis in all HIV exposed/infected children under 5 years of age has considerably reduced associated infections overall and respiratory infections in particular. In developing countries already burdened with poverty, malnutrition, suboptimal immunization coverage and limited access to health care and treatment, acute and chronic HIV-associated respiratory disease remain a major cause for concern. Prevention of severe respiratory infections in advanced HIV disease among children consists mostly of rapid and optimal HAART initiation & continuation, preventing severe TB disease with BCG and TB preventive treatment, preventing Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia with cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and administering age-appropriate vaccinations and catch-up vaccines as per National Immunization schedule.