- This paper describes two instances of patients who were diagnosed with both COVID-19 and HIV as simultaneous infections
- Patient 1 had severe pulmonary issues including, but not limited to ground-glass opacities in the lungs, pulmonary lesions, and severe chest tightness. However, patient 1 was not formally diagnosed with COVID-19 officially until day 23 of hospitalization with multiple previous negative throat swab tests
- Additionally, patient 1 also had severe immune issues including low lymphocyte count, elevated IgG and IgM, and decreases monocyte count
- Patient 1’s symptoms culminated in a diagnosis of HIV on day 23 where on day 25 they had to be moved to a different hospital for additional treatment 
- Patient 2 exhibited an extremely high fever peaking on day 4 at 39.4°C (102.9°F) also exhibiting broad shadowing of lungs accompanied by ground glass opacities. Additionally, patient 2 also was not formally diagnosed with COVID-19 until day 25 of hospitalization with multiple throat swab tests coming back negative
- Patient 2’s immunological condition worsened as hospitalization continued as lymphocyte and leucocyte counts continued to decrease
- Patient 2 was diagnosed with HIV on day 25 of hospitalization and started antiretroviral treatment

New HIV diagnoses in patients with COVID-19: two case reports and a brief literature review

- This article strives to give an overall summary of all HIV related COVID-19 articles available at the time of publication (11/02/2020) in order to assess the conditions of HIV afflicted patients during the pandemic
- Out of the 43 total patients assessed in all articles, 30 (69.77%) are male, 11 are female (25.58%), and 2 are transgender (4.65%)
- Most patients were found to be from the US as well as China, the UK, Iran, South Korea, as well as a few others on varying continents 
- 25 patients comorbid with HIV and COVID-19 also had preexisting heart conditions
- Most experienced the most common symptoms of fever and cough, while additional symptoms were found in less than 30% of patients
- 34 out of 43 patients had no contact history with COVID-19 reported
- 6 (13.95%) of this subset of patients died during hospitalization for COVID-19
- It was found that patients taking a combination of tenofovir and emtricitabine had the best hospitalization outcomes of all assessed
- An overwhelming amount of patients assessed in this study were also over the age of 50, which puts them in a higher risk group when compared to other age groups


COVID-19 in HIV: a Review of Published Case Reports

This category classifies literature and published case reports that document the clinical features, outcomes, and new diagnoses of patients concurrently infected with both COVID-19 and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Ohio State University, Columbus

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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and COVID-19 can interact synergistically as a syndemic. While HIV itself may not directly increase the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2, people living with HIV frequently have other pre-existing conditions—such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases—that heighten the severity and lethality of a COVID-19 coinfection.

HIV as a Comorbidity of COVID-19

- Due to COVID-19, testing, diagnosis, and care for HIV patients is in a limbo
- HIV patients should use extra care when it comes to social distancing, quarantine, and community containment measure
- Initiation of antiviral therapies for HIV at hospitals are also at risk due to HIV infected patients limited access to hospitals because of COVID-19 measures
- Continuation of antiviral therapies for HIV are also hindered due to lockdowns which force HIV patients to stay home when they need to go to a hospital for treatment
- In response to these challenges, several disease organizations have put in measures such as mail in orders or local smaller facility contained antiviral therapy treatment, limiting HIV patients to those who may have COVID-19
- Antiviral therapies related to HIV in some countries have also been lowered in price or even made free so that HIV patients may be able to continue their treatment
- These solutions are only really temporary and there needs to be a more permanent solution put in place for these high risk patients


Maintaining HIV care during the COVID-19 pandemic

HIV in COVID-19 Patients by Geographic Location

- The Burden of COVID-19 in People Living with HIV: A Syndemic Perspective (General Summary of HIV and COVID-19 Interaction)
- Clinical Features and Outcomes of Patients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus With COVID-19
- COVID-19 pneumonia in an HIV-positive woman on antiretroviral therapy and undetectable viral load in Porto Alegre, Brazil – Updates on Interactions July 2020

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