“Significant” HIV risk factor for severe COVID: WHO

HIV is a “significant” risk factor for severe COVID-19, the World Health Organization said in a study published Thursday that showed a significant increase in deaths among patients with the virus that causes AIDS. and who are also hospitalized with COVID-19.

There are more than 37 million people living with HIV worldwide and up to 45 million have died from the virus since the onset of the AIDS pandemic.

Previous studies had failed to establish a clear link between HIV and a higher likelihood of COVID-19 serious illness and death, as many patients also suffer from additional health complications, such as high blood pressure or obesity.

The researchers analyzed data on more than 15,500 people living with HIV who were hospitalized for COVID-19.

The mean age of the patients was 45.5 years and more than one-third had severe or critical COVID-19.

Ninety-two percent had received antiretroviral therapy before hospitalization.

Among patients for whom a result was recorded, 23% died at the hospital.

“HIV appears to be a significant independent risk factor for serious or serious illnesses in hospital admission and hospital mortality,” said the study’s authors, which was published during the 11th Annual Conference of the International Society. of AIDS (IAS) on HIV Science.

IAS President Adeeba Kamarulzaman said the results of the study show the importance of prioritizing people living with HIV in national COVID-19 vaccination programs.

“The file global community it must do more to ensure the immediate supply of vaccines to countries with a high prevalence of HIV disease, ”Kamarulzaman said.

“It is unacceptable that today, less than three per cent of the entire African continent has received a single dose of vaccine and less than 1.5 per cent have received both doses.”

The United Nations UNAIDS program said Wednesday that the pandemic had severely disrupted HIV diagnosis and treatment services.

In some regions of South Africa, HIV testing fell by almost 50% during the first close of April 2020, with more than 28,000 health workers they went from HIV programs to COVID-19 screening.

“Europe’s rich countries are preparing to enjoy the summer, as their populations have easy access to COVID-19 vaccines, while the world’s south is in crisis,” said Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the ‘UNAIDS.

“We have not learned the lessons of HIV, when millions were denied life-saving drugs and died due to inequalities in access. This is totally unacceptable.”

© 2021 AFP