HIV outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in people of Black ethnicities living with HIV in England.
HIV Med
; 25(7): 885-892, 2024 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38529684
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
To describe HIV care outcomes in people of Black ethnicities living in England during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) pandemic.METHODS:
This was an observational cohort study of people of self-reported Black ethnicities attending for HIV care at nine HIV clinics across England. The primary outcome was a composite of antiretroviral therapy (ART) interruption and HIV viraemia (HIV RNA ≥200 copies/mL) ascertained via self-completed questionnaires and review of medical records. We used multivariable logistic regression to explore associations between ART interruption/HIV viraemia and demographic factors, pre-pandemic HIV immunovirological control, comorbidity status, and COVID-19 disease and vaccination status.RESULTS:
We included 2290 people (median age 49.3 years; 56% female; median CD4 cell count 555 cells/mm3; 92% pre-pandemic HIV RNA <200 copies/mL), of whom 302 (13%) reported one or more ART interruption, 312 (14%) had documented HIV viraemia ≥200 copies/mL, and 401 (18%) experienced the composite endpoint of ART interruption/HIV viraemia. In multivariable analysis, a pre-pandemic HIV RNA <200 copies/mL (odds ratio [OR] 0.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.15-0.30) and being vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.30-0.55) were associated with reduced odds of ART interruption/HIV viraemia; pandemic-related disruptions to HIV care were common self-reported additional factors.CONCLUSIONS:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, one in six people of Black ethnicities in this HIV cohort experienced an ART interruption/HIV viraemia. Some of these episodes resulted from pandemic-related healthcare disruptions. Associations with suboptimal engagement in HIV care pre-pandemic and not being vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 suggest that wider health beliefs and/or poor healthcare access may have been contributory factors.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
HIV Infections
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Black People
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SARS-CoV-2
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COVID-19
Limits:
Adult
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Female
/
Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
HIV Med
Journal subject:
SINDROME DA IMUNODEFICIENCIA ADQUIRIDA (AIDS)
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: