Factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among people living with HIV: Data from the Balearic cohort (EVHIA).

INTRODUCTION: The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection among people living with HIV (PLWH) has been a matter of research. We evaluated the incidence and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis among PLWH. We also assessed factors related to vaccination coverage in the Balearic Islands. METHODS: A retrospective analytical study was performed, including patients from the Balearic cohort (EVHIA) who were visited at least twice between 1st January 2020 and 31st March 2022. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare categorical and continuous variables respectively. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were estimated to identify risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 3567 patients with HIV were included. The median age was 51 years (IQR 44-59). Most of them were male (77,3%), from Europe (82,1%) or South America (13,8%). During the study period 1036 patients were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection (29%). The incidence rate was 153,24 cases per 1000 person-year. After multivariable analysis, men who have sex with men (MSM) were associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (adjusted hazard ratio 1,324, 95% CI 1,138-1,540), whereas African origin, tobacco use and complete or booster vaccination coverage were negatively related. Overall, complete vaccination or booster coverage was recorded in 2845 (79,75%) patients. When analysing vaccination uptake, older patients (adjusted hazard ratio 5,122, 95% CI 3,170-8,288) and those with a modified comorbidity index of 2-3 points (adjusted hazard ratio 1,492, 95% CI 1,056-2,107) had received more vaccine doses. CONCLUSIONS: In our study no HIV related factor was associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, except for differences in the transmission route. Possible confounding variables such as mask wearing or social interactions could not be measured. Vaccines were of utmost importance to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Efforts should be made to encourage vaccination in those groups of PLWH with less coverage.

Identifying risk factors for anal cancer in people with HIV in Spain: a multicentre retrospective cohort study nested in the PISCIS cohort.

BACKGROUND: People with HIV have a substantially higher risk of anal cancer than the general population. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with the development of anal cancer among people with HIV to implement more effective and targeted screening strategies. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre retrospective cohort study in 16 hospitals across Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, Spain, between Jan 1, 1998, and Dec 31, 2022. Treatment-naive people with HIV nested in the PISCIS cohort aged 16 years and older with biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the anus or anal canal were eligible for inclusion. Data were retrieved from every hospital registry and were centrally validated in the PISCIS cohort and the Public Data Analysis for Health Research and Innovation Program. The primary outcome was the incidence rate (IR) of histologically confirmed anal cancer. We used Poisson regression to examine the association between the following risk factors and incidence of anal cancer: age, mode of HIV transmission, nadir CD4 cell count, and time period of HIV diagnosis. FINDINGS: Among 14 238 people with HIV, 107 (0·8%) developed anal cancer, with an overall IR of 72·5 cases per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 59·4-87·6) and median follow-up of 9·5 years (IQR 4·4-15·7). Of these patients with anal cancer, 37 (34·6%) died, of which 24 (64·9%) deaths were related to anal cancer. Incidence was highest among people with HIV with historical nadir CD4 counts of less than 200 cells per µL (IR 105·0 person-years, 95% CI 82·0-132·5) and lowest among those with counts of more than 350 cells per µL (2·9 person-years, 0·1-16·0). Among men who have sex with men (MSM), the IR was 211·5 person-years (95% CI 151·1-211·7) among those with a CD4 count of less than 200 cells per µL, 37·6 person-years (16·2-74·1) among those with a count of 200-350 cells per µL, and 4·8 person-years (0·1-26·9) among those with a count of more than 350 cells per µL. Among people with HIV younger than 30 years, there were no cases of anal cancer among women or men who do not have sex with men, and one case among MSM with a nadir CD4 count of more than 350 cells per µL (IR 4·8 person-years, 95% CI 0·1-26·9). In the multivariable analysis, people with HIV with nadir CD4 counts of more than 350 cells per µL had the lowest risk of developing anal cancer, compared with people with HIV with counts of less than 200 cells per µL (adjusted IR ratio 0·03, 95% CI 0·00-0·25; p=0·0010) or 200-350 cells per µL (0·30, 0·17-0·55; p<0·0001). Compared with people with HIV younger than 30 years, people with HIV aged 60 years and older had an adjusted IR ratio of 27·6 (3·7-206·9; p=0·0010) and people with HIV aged 45-59 years of 21·6 (3·0-156·4; p=0·0020). Compared with individuals diagnosed after 2015, a diagnosis of HIV before 1998 had an adjusted IR ratio of 33·0 (7·9-137·5; p<0·0001). INTERPRETATION: A nadir CD4 count threshold below 350 cells per µL, particularly less than 200 cells per µL, has the potential to identify people with HIV at heightened risk of developing anal cancer. Customised screening strategies that prioritise screening for individuals at high risk with this surrogate marker could maximise available resources. External validation of these data with other cohorts is required before screening recommendations can be updated. FUNDING: Catalan Health Department, Generalitat de Catalunya.

Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide as first-line treatment in naïve HIV patients in a rapid-initiation model of care: BIC-NOW clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple strategies have been utilised to reduce the incidence of HIV, including PrEP and rapid antiretroviral therapy initiation. The study objectives were to evaluate the efficacy, safety, satisfaction, treatment adherence, and system retention obtained with rapid initiation of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) in naïve patients. METHODS: This phase IV, multicenter, open-label, single-arm, 48-week clinical trial enrolled patients between January 2020 and June 2022. Adherence to treatment was evaluated with the SMAQ questionnaire and patient satisfaction with the EQ-5D. RESULTS: Two hundred eight participants were enrolled with mean age of 35.6 years; 87.6% were males; mean CD4 count was 393.5 cells/uL (<200 cells/uL in 22.1%); viral load log was 5.6 (VL>100 000 cop/mL in 43.3%); 22.6% had AIDS, and 4.3% were coinfected with HBV. BIC/FTC/TAF was initiated on the day of their first visit to the HIV specialist in 98.6% of participants, and 9.6% were lost to follow-up. The efficacy at week 48 was 84.1 % by intention-to- treat (ITT), 94.6% by modified ITT, and 98.3% by per protocol analysis. The regimen was discontinued in two subjects (0.9%) during week 1 for grade 3 adverse events. Treatment adherence (weeks 4 [90%, IQR: 80-99%] vs. 48 [90%, IQR: 80-95%; P = 0.49]) and patient satisfaction (weeks 4 [90%, IQR: 80-99%] vs. 48 [90%, IQR: 80-95 P = 0.49]) rates were very high over the 48- week study period. CONCLUSIONS: BIC/FTC/TAF is an appropriate option for rapid ART initiation in naïve HIV patients, offering high efficacy, safety, durability, treatment adherence, retention in the healthcare system, and patient satisfaction. Number Clinical Trial registration: NCT06177574.