Evaluating virological outcomes in people with HIV on stable antiretroviral therapy with reduced frequency of HIV viral load monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic.
HIV Med
; 24(7): 845-850, 2023 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36895110
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, HIV outpatient attendances were restricted from March 2020, resulting in reduced frequency of HIV viral load (VL) monitoring (previously 6-monthly) in clinically stable and virologically suppressed people living with HIV (PLWH). We investigated virological outcomes during this period of reduced monitoring and compared with the previous year, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS:
People living with HIV with undetectable VL (<200 HIV RNA copies /mL) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) were identified from March 2018 to February 2019. We determined VL outcomes during the pre-COVD-19 period (March 2019-February 2020) and the COVID-19 period (March 2020-February 2021) when monitoring was restricted. Frequency and longest durations between VL tests in each period were evaluated, and virological sequelae in those with detectable VL were determined.RESULTS:
Of 2677 PLWH virologically suppressed on ART (March 2018-February 2019), VLs were measured and undetectable in 2571 (96.0%) and 2003 (77.9%) in the pre-COVID and COVID periods, respectively. Mean (SD) numbers of VL tests were 2.3 (1.08) and 1.1 (0.83) and mean longest duration between VL tests was 29.5 weeks (SD 8.25, 3.1% were ≥12 months) and 43.7 weeks (12.64, 28.4% were ≥12 months), in the pre-COVID and COVID periods, respectively. Of 45 individuals with one or more detectable VL during the COVID-19 period, two developed new drug resistance mutations.CONCLUSION:
Reduced VL monitoring was not associated with poorer virological outcomes in the majority of stable individuals receiving ART. One in 20 individuals had not returned for VL testing after ≥31 months and the risk of harm in these individuals is unknown.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Contexto em Saúde:
2_ODS3
/
4_TD
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Infecções por HIV
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Fármacos Anti-HIV
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COVID-19
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
HIV Med
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article