Coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID‐۱۹) among HIV-positive patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and Aim : Whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with a higher risk of morbidity and mortality due to corona virus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) is unclear. In the present study, we aimed to provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of HIV among patients with COVID-۱۹ through case reports/case series and prevalence studies.Methods : A systematic literature search strategy was conducted via reviewing original research articles published in Medline, Web of Science, and Embase databases in ۲۰۱۹ and ۲۰۲۰. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA software, version ۱۴.۰ (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, USA) to report the prevalence of HIV among patients with COVID-۱۹. Case reports/case series were also evaluated as a systematic review.Results : Sixty-three studies (۵۳ case reports/case series and ۱۰ prevalence studies) were included in our study. A meta-analysis of prevalence studies showed that HIV infection among patients with COVID-۱۹ were reported in ۶ countries (Uganda, China, Iran, USA, Italy and Spain) with an overall frequency of ۱.۲ % [(۹۵% CI) ۰.۸-۱.۷] among ۱۴۴۲۴ COVID-۱۹ patients. Conforming to the results of the case reports/case series, ۱۱۱ patients with HIV have been reported among ۱۱۳ patients with COVID-۱۹ from ۱۹ countries. Most of the cases were in the USA, China, Italy, and Spain.Conclusion : People with HIVare more likely to develop more severe complications from COVID-۱۹. . Targeted policies should be considered to address this raised risk in the current pandemic. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying underlying diseases, co-infections, co-morbidities, laboratory findings, and beneficial treatment strategies for HIV patients during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic.

Keywords:

Prevalence , ۲۰۱۹ novel coronavirus , COVID-۱۹ , HIV , Meta-analysis