COVID-19 symptoms and SARS-CoV-2 infection among people living with HIV in the US: the MACS/WIHS combined cohort study. Issue 5 (13th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: D'Souza, Gypsyamber; Springer, Gayle; Gustafson, Deborah; Kassaye, Seble; Alcaide, Maria L.; Ramirez, Catalina; Sharma, Anjali; Palella, Frank J.; Tien, Phyllis C.; Detels, Roger; Kempf, Mirjam-Colette; Lahiri, Cecile D.; Rinaldo, Charles R.; French, Audrey L.; Margolick, Joseph B.; Adimora, Ada A.
• Is Part Of: HIV research & clinical practice. Volume 21:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 130
• Page End: 139
• Publication Date: 2020-11-13
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- PLWH -- HIV -- SARS-CoV-2 -- symptoms -- testing -- epidemiology -- MWCCS; HIV Infections -- therapy; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome -- therapy; Clinical Trials as Topic; Clinical Medicine; AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment; Periodicals; Periodical; 616.9792
• DOI: 10.1080/25787489.2020.1844521
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2578-7489

Abstract

Abstract : Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection among People Living With HIV (PLWH) is not well-described. Objective: To study COVID-19 symptoms and SARS-CoV-2 PCR-based swab testing among participants of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) and Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). Methods: A telephone survey was collected April-June 30, 2020. Symptom and testing prevalence were explored. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Results: The survey was completed by 3411 participants, including 2078 (61%) PLWH and 1333 HIV-seronegative (SN) participants from across the US. Thirteen percent (n = 441) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection (13.4% of PLWH vs 12.2% of SN). Among those tested, positivity was higher in PLWH than SN (11.2% vs 6.1%, p = 0.08). Reasons for not being tested included testing not being available (30% of participants) and not knowing where to get tested (16% of participants). Most symptoms reported since January 2020 were similar in PLWH and SN, including headache (23% vs. 24%), myalgias (19% vs 18%), shortness of breath (14% vs 13%), chills (12% vs 10%), fever (6% vs 6%) and loss of taste or smell (6% vs 7%). Among PLWH who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 DNA, the most common symptoms were headache (71%), myalgia (68%), cough (68%) and chills (65%). In multivariable analysis among those tested, the odds of SARS-CoV-2 positivity were higher among PLWH than SN (aOR = 2.22 95%CI = 01.01–4.85, p = 0.046) and among those living with others versus living alone (aOR = 2.95 95%CI = 1.18–7.40). Conclusion: Prevalence and type of COVID-19 symptoms were similar in PLWH and SN. SARS-CoV-2 infection may be elevated among PLWH.