Are HIV and COVID-19 in an Embrace?

The relationship between HIV/AIDS and COVID has been the subject of debate since the pandemic began. There were early concerns the coronavirus would affect people living with HIV more seriously. Finally, we may have a more definitive answer to the debate whether HIV and COVID-19 are in an embrace or not.

Historic Proofs of Embrace Between COVID-19 and HIV

Feldman and Zamparini published new findings on The Lancet HIV site on May 10, 2022. The team knew Influenza affects people living with HIV/AIDS sufficiently to increase mortality risk by ten-to-twenty percent. However, they found data relating to possible COVID outcomes inconsistent.

Next, they examined data from United Kingdom, United States, and South Africa, and found little difference in disease severity and outcomes. However, large-scale population data from South Africa did suggest an association. But subsequent systematic and scoping reviews yielded conflicting results again.

Some of this more recent data suggested links to disease severity, while others found a relationship to mortality. Then Feldman and Zamparini discovered new data by researchers Sylvia Bertagnolio and Colleagues confirming a link between the two diseases.

New Findings on Link between HIV and COVID

Sylvia Bertagnolio and Colleagues accessed data from the WHO Global Clinical Platform on COVID-19. This is a secure, anonymized database of hospital patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Moreover, WHO established this service in April 2020 and it accordingly provides impressive depth of data.

The latest analysis includes 197,479 patient records between Jan 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021. Of them, 16,955 were living with HIV at the time, while 180,524 were HIV-negative. Sylvia Bertagnolio and Colleagues’ headline findings are as follows:

1… People living with HIV have a 15% greater chance of severe or critical COVID-19 condition.

2… Some 38% have greater chance of dying in hospital compared with people who are HIV-negative.

3… HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy or viral load suppression have reduced risk of poor outcomes.

Feldman and Zamparini therefore recommend managing HIV patients comprehensively, in order to assure them a greater chance of better COVID-19 outcomes.