Background Within the ongoing AGEhIV Cohort Study in Amsterdam, we prospectively compared the incidence of and risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection between HIV-positive and -negative participants. Moreover, we compared SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibody levels between participants with incident infection from both groups. Methods Starting in September 2020, consenting HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants were assessed 6-monthly for incident SARS-CoV-2 infection, using combined IgA/IgM/IgG SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibody assay. Cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated risk factors were assessed from February 27, 2020 through April 30, 2021 using complementary log-log regression. In those with incident SARS-CoV-2 infection, N-antibody levels were compared between groups using linear regression. Results 241 HIV-positive (99.2% virally suppressed) and 326 HIV-negative AGEhIV participants were included in this study. Cumulative SARS-CoV-2 incidence by April 2021 was 13.4% and 11.6% in HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants, respectively (p=0.61). Younger age and African origin were independently associated with incident infection. In those with incident infection, only self-reported fever, but not HIV status, was associated with higher N-antibody levels. Conclusions HIV-positive individuals with suppressed viremia and adequate CD4 cell counts were had similar risk of SARS-CoV-2 acquisition, and had similar SARS-CoV-2 N-antibody levels following infection compared to a comparable cohort of HIV-negative people.

Background We determined the frequency of and factors associated with ≥10% weight gain and its metabolic effects in virally suppressed people with HIV (PWH) from the Dutch national ATHENA cohort switching to TAF and/or INSTI. Methods We identified ART-experienced, but TAF/INSTI-naïve PWH, who switched to a TAF and/or INSTI-containing regimen whilst virally suppressed for >12 months. Individuals with comorbidities/co-medication associated with weight change were excluded. Analyses were stratified by switch to only TAF, only INSTI or combined TAF + INSTI. Factors associated with ≥10% weight gain were assessed using parametric survival models. Changes in glucose, lipids and blood pressure post-switch were modelled using mixed-effect linear regression and compared between those with and without ≥10% weight gain. Results Among 1,544 PWH who switched to only TAF, 2,629 to only INSTI and 918 to combined TAF + INSTI, ≥10% weight gain was observed in 8.8%, 10.6% and 14.4%, respectively. Across these groups, weight gain was more frequent in Western and Sub-Saharan African females than Western males. Weight gain was also more frequent in those with weight loss ≥1 kg/yr before switching, age < 40 years, and those discontinuing efavirenz. In those with ≥10% weight gain, 53.7% remained in the same BMI category, whilst a BMI change from normal/overweight at baseline to obesity at 24 months post-switch was seen in 13.9%, 11.7% and 15.2% of those switching to only TAF, only INSTI and combined TAF + INSTI respectively. PWH with ≥10% weight gain showed significantly larger, but small increases in glucose, blood pressure and lipid levels. Lipid increases were limited to those whose switch included TAF, whereas lipids decreased after switching to only INSTI. Conclusions Weight gain of ≥10% after switch to TAF and/or INSTI was common in virally suppressed PWH, particularly in females and those starting both drugs simultaneously. Consequent changes in metabolic parameters were however modest.

In two Dutch observational cohorts of people with HIV, the use of TDF, ETR, or INSTIs was not independently associated with either the risk of incident SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 outcomes, as was suggested by previous observational and molecular docking studies. Our findings do not support a strategy of modifying antiretroviral therapy to include these agents to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 outcomes.