THE BOTTOM LINE:

A study from Germany describes the experience of  33 people living with HIV and COVID-19.   Just over 90% of the patients recovered with 76% classified as mild.  However, 9% died. This frequency of death was higher than the German average of 4%. The authors concluded that this excess in mortality may have been distorted because more complex cases from the university hospitals were included in the sample.  Neither darunavir nor tenofovir appeared to provide a protective effect. More data are clearly necessary before conclusions can be made about the effect of HIV on COVID-19 outcomes.

Introduction

Data on people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) in the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic are still scarce. This case series of 33 PLWH patients with COVID-19 reveals symptoms and outcome in this special population.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of anonymized data including age, gender, HIV-associated parameters, symptoms, and outcome.

Results

Three out of 32 patients with documented outcomes died (9%). 91% of the patients recovered and 76% had been classified as mild cases. All patients were on antiretroviral treatment, of them 22 on tenofovir-containing regimen and 4 on the protease inhibitor darunavir.

Conclusions

This preliminary case series does not support excess morbidity and mortality among symptomatic COVID-19 PLWH and with viral suppression on ART. SARS-CoV-2 infections may occur during boosted darunavir-based and/or on tenofovir-containing ART.