Registro argentino de COVID-19 en VIH (Estudio COVIDARE): características clínicas, epidemiológicas y factores asociados a hospitalización

Introducción: Existe controversia con respecto a los factores que determinan un mayor riesgo de gravedad y complicaciones por COVID-19 en personas que viven con VIH (PVVIH). Asimismo, hay datos limitados sobre el impacto de la vacunación contra SARS-CoV-2 en la hospitalización en esta población. Objetivos: Describir las características clínicas y evolutivas de COVID-19 en PVVIH; Evaluar factores de riesgo para hospitalización; Evaluar el impacto de la vacunación en la hospitalización. Pacientes y Métodos: Estudio observacional, prospectivo, multicéntrico (septiembre de 2020 a junio de 2022). Se registraron variables clínicas, inmunovirológicas, tratamiento antirretroviral (TARV), vacunación contra SARS-CoV-2 y hospitalización en PVVIH con COVID-19. Se realizaron análisis uni y multivariados examinando factores asociados a hospitalización utilizando dos modelos: primer modelo (sin vacunación) y segundo modelo (vacunación, mínimo una dosis). Resultados: Se incluyeron 1.201 PVVIH. La mediana de edad fue 45 años. El 65,3% fueron hombres; el 38,7% presentó comorbilidades. Recibía TARV el 92,8% y presentó carga viral (CV) indetectable el 83,1%. La mediana de linfocitos T CD4+ fue de 600 céls/mm3. El 95,7% presentó síntomas. Las tasas de hospitalización, ingreso a UCI, requerimiento de oxígeno y muerte fueron 17,8%, 2,8%, 10,7% y 1,39%, respectivamente. De acuerdo con el análisis multivariado para el primer modelo, la edad > 60 años y las comorbilidades se asociaron a mayor riesgo de hospitalización, mientras que el sexo femenino y un recuento de linfocitos T CD4+ > 500 céls/mm3 tuvieron un efecto protector. En el segundo modelo sólo las comorbilidades se relacionaron con un mayor riesgo de hospitalización mientras que la vacunación y células CD4+ > 500 céls/mm3 la redujeron. Conclusiones: En PVVIH las comorbilidades se asociaron con mayor tasa de hospitalización, mientras que tener linfocitos T CD4+ elevados y estar vacunado tuvieron un efecto protector. El TARV y la CV no tuvieron impacto en modelo alguno mientras que la edad y el sexo solo influyeron cuando no se consideró la vacunación.

Background: There is controversy regarding the factors that determine a greater risk of severity and complications from COVID-19 in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Likewise, there are limited data on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on hospitalization in this population. Aims: To describe clinical characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 in PLHIV; To assess risk factors for hospitalization; To evaluate the impact of vaccination on hospitalization. Methods: Multicenter, prospective, observational study (September 2020 to June 2022). Clinical and immunovirological variables, antiretroviral treatment (ART), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, and hospitalization in PLHIV with COVID-19 were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyzes were performed examining factors associated with hospitalization using two models: first model (without vaccination) and second model (vaccination, minimum one dose). Results: 1,201 PLHIV were included. The median age was 45 years. 65.3% were men; 38.7% presented comorbidities. 92.8% received ART and 83.1% presented undetectable viral load (VL). The median CD4+ T-cell count was 600/mm3. 95.7% presented symptoms. The rates of hospitalization, ICU admission, oxygen requirement, and death were 17.8 %, 2.8%, 10.7% and 1.39%, respectively. According to the multivariate analysis for the first model, age > 60 years and comorbidities were associated with a higher risk of hospitalization, while female sex and CD4+ > 500/mm3 had a protective effect. In the second model, only the comorbidities were associated with a higher risk of hospitalization, while vaccination and CD4+ > 500/mm3 reduced it. Conclusions: in PLHIV, comorbidities were associated with a higher hospitalization rate, while having elevated CD4+ T-cell counts and being vaccinated had a protective effect. ART and VL had no impact in any model, while age and sex only had an influence when vaccination was not considered.

Tenofovir-Containing Antiretroviral Therapy and Clinical Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in People Living with HIV.

Tenofovir has been hypothesized to be effective against COVID-19 and is available as two prodrugs, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), both part of antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens. People living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) might be at higher risk for COVID-19 progression; however, information about the impact of tenofovir on COVID-19 clinical outcomes remains controversial. The COVIDARE is a prospective observational multicentric study in Argentina. PLWH with COVID-19 were enrolled from September 2020 to mid-June 2022. Patients were stratified according to baseline ART into those with tenofovir (TDF or TAF) and those without. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of tenofovir vs. non-tenofovir-containing regimens on major clinical outcomes. Of the 1155 subjects evaluated, 927 (80%) received tenofovir-based ART (79% TDF, 21% TAF) whilst the remaining population was under non-tenofovir regimens. The non-tenofovir group had older age and a higher prevalence of heart and kidney disease. Regarding the prevalence of symptomatic COVID-19, tomographic findings, hospitalization, and mortality, no differences were observed. The oxygen therapy requirement was higher in the non-tenofovir group. In the multivariate analyses, a first model with adjustment for viral load, CD4 T-cell count, and overall comorbidities showed that oxygen requirement was associated with non-tenofovir ART. In a second model with adjustment by chronic kidney disease, tenofovir exposure was not statistically significant.

Infección por VIH: carga viral plasmática intratratamiento en la era del "Indetectable = Intransmisible" / HIV infection: Plasma viral load intratratization in the era of the "undetectable = non transmissible"

Se acepta que los individuos infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (HIV) son incapaces de transmitir la infección por vía sexual mientras sus niveles de carga viral plasmática se mantengan indetectables. Con el propósito de estudiar qué porcentaje de infectados por el HIV cumple esa condición estudiamos una población de pacientes asistidos regularmente en un hospital general de agudos de la ciudad de Buenos Aires. Se incluyeron 298 individuos, 162 de ellos de sexo masculino (54.36%) con una edad (promedio ± desvío estándar) de 47.83 ± 11.69 años y un recuento de células CD4+ de 693.93 ± 363.87 x 106 células / mL de sangre periférica. La carga viral plasmática fue indetectable en 230 de los individuos estudiados (77.81%). Los 68 restantes (22.82%) mostraron en promedio 9856.67 ± 70922.11 copias / mL, siendo estos niveles mayores en hombres que en mujeres (17379.39 ± 95521.51 copias / mL vs 895.78 ± 5952.99 copias / mL, respectivamente; p=0.015, Student t test), lo que explicaría los recuentos de linfocitos CD4+ significativamente menores hallados en hombres.187 de 231 individuos que recibían su primer tratamiento antiretroviral (TARV) mostraron cargas virales indetectables (80,95%) versus 42 de 67 pacientes que habían recibido dos o más esquemas de tratamiento antirretroviral (61,69%; p= 0.002, prueba de 2 ). Estos resultados muestran que un porcentaje importante de infectados por el HIV continúan presentando cargas virales plasmáticas detectables a pesar del TARV, siendo capaces de transmitir la infección por vía sexual a sus parejas

It is widely accepted that HIV-infected subjects are incapable to transmit sexually the infection while their plasmatic viral load remains undetectable. In order to assess the percentage of HIV infected patients showing undetectable viral loads during their antiviral treatment we studied a population of patients regularly assisted at a general hospital. A total of 298 patients (162 men; 54.36%) were admitted to the study. The mean age was (mean ± standard deviation) 47.83 ± 11.69 years, and the mean CD4+ cell count was 693.93 ± 363.87 x 106 cells / mL. These variables did not showed statistically significative differences between men and women. Plasmatic viral load was undetectable in 230 patients (77.81%). The remaining 68 patients (22.82%) showed a mean of 9856.67 ± 70922 copies / mL. These values were higher in men than in women (17379.39 ± 95521.51 copies / mL vs 895.78 ± 5952.99 copies / mL, respectively; p=0.015, Student t test). In line with these findings, CD4+ cell count was significantly lower in men (575.10 ± 345.14 cells / L vs. 707.04 ± 373.46 cells / L, respectively; p=0.0019, Student t test). 187 out of 231 patients receiving their first antiretroviral treatment showed undetectable viral loads (80,95%), while only 42 out of 67 patients having previously received other antiretroviral schemes had undetectable levels of plasmatic viral load (61,69%; p= 0.002, 2 ). These findings show that an important number of patients may keep detectable levels of plasmatic viral load during antiretroviral treatment, being therefore capable to sexually transmit the infection to their couples.

Antiretroviral therapy use in selected countries in Latin America during 2013-2017: results from the Latin American Workshop in HIV Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To document antiretroviral use in Latin America during the last decade. METHODS: We collected indicators from 79 HIV health care centres in 14 Latin American Spanish-speaking countries for 2013-2017. Indicators were analysed by age, sex and other characteristics and weighted by the estimated people under care (PUC) population in each country. RESULTS: We gathered information on 116 299 PUC. One-third belonged to centres reporting a shortage of at least one antiretroviral therapy (ART) drug for >30 days during 2017. At end 2017, 95.1% of PUC were receiving ART. During 2013-2017, 45 329 people living with HIV were admitted to 39 centres. ART initiated during the first year after admission increased from 76.7% in 2013 to 83.8% in 2017. In 35 centres across the study period, 71.7% of PUC started ART with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and lamivudine, and zidovudine use decreased. The third most common ART drug, EFV, reached 64.8%. Raltegravir and other alternatives increased annually to almost 10% of total use in 2017. CONCLUSIONS: Initial ART in Latin America is not based on the most recent scientific evidence and recommendations; use of drugs with higher efficacy and safety profiles and guarantee of ART availability continues to be a public health challenge.

Characteristics of Patients Co-infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and Dengue Virus, Buenos Aires, Argentina, March-June 2020.

An epidemic of dengue virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) co-infections occurred in Argentina during 2020. We describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes in a cohort of patients hospitalized because of co-infection. We retrospectively identified 13 patients from different hospitals in Buenos Aires who had confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2 and dengue virus and obtained clinical and laboratory data from clinical records. All patients had febrile disease when hospitalized. Headache was a common symptom. A total of 8 patients had respiratory symptoms, 5 had pneumonia, and 3 had rash. Nearly all patients had lymphopenia when hospitalized. No patients were admitted to an intensive care unit or died during follow up. Co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 and dengue virus can occur in patients living in areas in which both viruses are epidemic. The outcome of these patients did not seem to be worse than those having either SARS-CoV-2 or dengue infection alone.