Descriptive account of 18 adults with known HIV infection hospitalised with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Issue 5 (2nd September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Madge, Sara; Barber, Tristan J; Hunter, Alan; Bhagani, Sanjay; Lipman, Marc; Burns, Fiona
• Is Part Of: Sexually transmitted infections. Volume 97:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 392
• Page End: 393
• Publication Date: 2020-09-02
• Subjects: HIV -- HIV clinical care -- infection; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; HIV infections -- Periodicals; 616.951005
• DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2020-054660
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-4973

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To report on the clinical characteristics and outcome of 18 people living with HIV (PLWH) hospitalised with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a London teaching hospital. Methods: The hospital notes of 18 PLWH hospitalised with SARS-CoV-2 infection were retrospectively reviewed alongside data concerning their HIV demographics from an established HIV Database. Results: The majority (16/18) had positive PCR swabs for SARS-CoV-2, and two had negative swabs but typical COVID-19 imaging and history. Most were male (14/18, 78%), median age 63 years (range 47–77 years). Two-thirds were migrants, nine (50%) of Black, Asian and minority ethnicity (BAME). All were diagnosed with HIV for many years (range 8–31 years), and all had an undetectable HIV viral load (<40 copies/mL). The median CD4 prior to admission was 439 (IQR 239–651), and 10/16 (63%) had a CD4 nadir below 200 cells/mm 3 . Almost all (17/18) had been diagnosed with at least one comorbidity associated with SARS-CoV-2 prior to admission. 3/18 patients died. None received mechanical ventilation. Hospital stay and clinical course did not appear prolonged (median 9 days). Conclusions: Our data suggest that PLWH may not necessarily have prolonged or complex admissions to hospital when compared with the general hospital and national population admitted with COVID-19. Many had low nadir CD4 counts and potentially impaired functional immune restoration. The PLWH group was younger than generally reported for COVID-19, and the majority were male with multiple complex comorbidities. These patients had frequent contact with hospital settings increasing potential for nosocomial acquisition and increased risk of severe COVID-19.