Abstract
Background: this study aimed to determine the proportion of people living with HIV (PLWH) with anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in a large sample from a single HIV referral center in Rome, Italy; the time-frame included both the first and the second wave of the Italian COVID-19 pandemic; Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study on stored cryopreserved samples from 1 March 2020 to 30 November 2020. Total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were preliminarily tested using a chemiluminescent immunoassay. Positive results were re-tested with an ELISA assay as an IgG confirmatory test; Results: overall, 1389 samples were analyzed from 1106 PLWH: 69% males, median age 53 years, 94% on antiretroviral treatment, 93% with HIV-RNA < 50 copies/mL, median CD4 cell count 610 cell/µL. Our analysis revealed a total of n = 8 patients who tested IgG positive during the study period. Seroprevalence was equal to 0% in the first months (March–June); this started to increase in July and reached a maximum rate of 1.59% in October 2020. The overall seroprevalence was 0.72% (8/1106, 95% CI 0.37–1.42). Conclusion: our findings from this setting show a low IgG SARS-CoV-2 prevalence among PLWH as compared to data available from the general population.
Highlights
Despite the ongoing pandemic spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the impact of this new coronavirus on people living with HIV (PLWH) is still unclear and data are fragmentary and, at times, controversial [1,2]
The median age was 53 years (IQR 45–60), the median time from HIV infection diagnosis was 16 years (IQR 8–24); 94% (n = 1038/1106) of patients were on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) of whom 72% (n = 750/1038) were on a triple regimen with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors backbone plus an anchor drug (59.5% integrase inhibitor, 31.5% non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, 9% protease inhibitor), 27% (n = 279/1038) were on a dual therapy
Our analysis revealed a seroprevalence of 0.72% (n = 8/1106; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.37–1.42)
Summary
Despite the ongoing pandemic spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the impact of this new coronavirus on people living with HIV (PLWH) is still unclear and data are fragmentary and, at times, controversial [1,2]. In particular a comprehensive understanding of the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in PLWH must still be determined; more data are needed to clarify viral transmissibility and to strengthen pandemic prevention and preparedness efforts in this population. SARS-CoV-2 incidence among PLWH compared with the general population. Given the high proportion of asymptomatic infections with SARS-CoV-2, incidence estimates from these studies could be biased by differential testing rates among populations [8]. This available data on the SARS-CoV-2 incidence in PLWH derives from RTPCR positive testing, which detects active infections. Serology testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies has been recognized as a useful tool for diagnosing both previous and active infection in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. We present the results of a seroprevalence study measuring
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