From Cara Murez
HealthDay reporter
THURSDAY, May 13, 2021 (HealthDay News) – As with certain health conditions like cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure, new research shows that HIV or AIDS increases a person’s risk of developing and dying from COVID-19.
For the study, researchers at Penn State College of Medicine evaluated data from 22 previous studies involving 21 million participants in North America, Africa, Europe and Asia.
The researchers found that people with HIV were 24% more likely to get infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and a 78% higher risk of COVID-related deaths than people without HIV.
“Previous studies have not been conclusive as to whether or not HIV is a risk factor for susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and poor outcomes in populations with COVID-19,” said lead researcher Dr. Paddy Ssentongo, Assistant Professor at the Penn State Center for Neural Engineering.
“This is because the vast majority of people living with HIV / AIDS are on ART [antiretroviral therapy], some of which have been used experimentally to treat COVID-19, “he explained in a Penn State press release.
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According to the World Health Organization, around 38 million people worldwide are living with HIV or AIDS. Certain pre-existing medical conditions are common in people with HIV / AIDS, which can add to the severity of their COVID-19 cases.
Among the HIV-positive illnesses, high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic kidney disease were the most common pre-existing conditions.
About 66% of the study participants were men with an average age of 56 years. Most HIV / AIDS patients (96%) were receiving antiretroviral therapy, which helps suppress the amount of HIV found in the body.
The beneficial effects of antiviral drugs (such as protease inhibitors) in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and death from COVID-19 in people with HIV / AIDS are still inconclusive, according to the study’s authors.
Researcher Vernon Chinchilli, chairman of Penn State’s Department of Public Health Sciences, said, “As the pandemic has evolved, we have received enough information to characterize the epidemiology of HIV / SARS-CoV-2 co-infection, which is not possible was at the start of the pandemic due to a lack of data. Our findings support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s current guidance to prioritize people living with HIV over getting a COVID-19 vaccine. “
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The results were recently published in Scientific Reports.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more information on COVID-19.
SOURCE: Penn State Health, press release, May 11, 2021
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