464. Structural Vulnerability among Patients with HIV and SARS-CoV-2 Coinfection: Descriptive Case Series from the U.S. Midwest

Abstract

BackgroundIt is well known that the HIV epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic have both disproportionately harmed marginalized minority and immigrant communities in the United States. The risk factors associated with disease incidence and outcomes reaffirm that structural vulnerabilities—sociopolitically imposed risk factors like discrimination, legal status, poverty, and beyond which impact a patient’s opportunity to achieve optimal health—play a key role in facilitating the inequitable harms of COVID-19 and HIV alike. This study explores the role of structural forces in increasing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 coinfection among people with HIV (PWH).MethodsWe performed a retrospective chart review of PWH receiving care at the University of Nebraska Medical Center HIV clinic in Omaha, Nebraska, to collect patient demographics, comorbidities, HIV outcomes, and COVID-19 outcomes for 37 patients with HIV and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection as of August 27, 2020. As a comparison group, we obtained demographic data from a registry of all patients seen at the HIV clinic. We used R Statistical Software to perform descriptive statistical analysis. ResultsRelative to our overall HIV clinic population, over twice as many Hispanic patients (35.1% vs. 16.0%), three times as many undocumented patients (13.5% vs. 4.2%), and four times as many refugee patients (16.2% vs. 4.0%) had COVID-19. The majority (67.6%) of coinfected patients reported working in “essential” jobs during the pandemic. Thirty-four of the 37 people with HIV and COVID-19 (PWHC) had at least one comorbidity, including increased BMI (83.7%), hypertension (64.9%), or hyperlipidemia (48.6%). All 37 PWHC remained alive as of October 4, 2020. Demographics and HIV Disease Progression of People with HIV and SARS-CoV-2 Coinfection vs. Overall HIV Clinic Registry Demographics and HIV Disease Progression of People with HIV and SARS-CoV-2 Coinfection vs. Overall HIV Clinic Registry (continued) ConclusionThe disproportionate burden of SARS-CoV-2 coinfection on Hispanic, undocumented, and refugee PWH may be a product of structural vulnerabilities contributing to greater risk of exposure. Although all 37 PWHC had well-controlled HIV and relatively mild COVID-19 courses, the broader theme of disproportionate COVID-19 incidence among vulnerable sub-populations of people with HIV reaffirms the importance of structural interventions to mitigate current and downstream harms.Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures