Abstract

Background: People living with HIV might be at an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 disease, especially those with comorbidity, lower CD4+ count, or high HIV RNA load, however, the impact of HIV on COVID-19 course remains a matter for debate. In this report we aim to study patients with HIV/COVID-19 coinfection seen in Qatar and examine the effects of this coinfection on disease course and attempt to identify factors that may be associated with severe disease.

Methods: Review of the medical records of all HIV infected patients who developed COVID-19 infection during the period between 27th February 2020 and 30th June 2021.

Results: Among the 280 HIV infected patients who were living in Qatar during the study period we identified 30 patients with HIV/ COVID-19 coinfection. 14 were Qatari and the rest were from other nationalities. 22 patients were males and 8 were females. 23 were known to be HIV infected before COVID-19 diagnosis and 7 were found to have HIV infection at the time of diagnosis or shortly after. 28 patients developed COVID-19 infection either before receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccine or in less than 14 days after the second vaccine dose. The disease was mild in most patients and only 10 patients needed hospital admission. The clinical and laboratory finding were similar to those reported by others. Virus shedding was prolonged only in the two patients with very low CD4+ cells and high viral load. The outcome was excellent with no significant morbidity and no mortality.

Conclusion: The clinical manifestations of patients with HIV/COVID-19 coinfection seen in Qatar are similar to that reported by others, however, they were younger with male preponderance and is mostly mild to moderate in severity with a favorable outcome and no mortality. In HIV infected patients, COVID-19 vaccine is highly efficacious in preventing severe disease and hospitalization.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; HIV; COVID-19; Patients