COVID‐19 in HIV‐positive patients: A systematic review of case reports and case series

Abstract

Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are two viral diseases for which there are currently no definitive treatments. Nowadays, because of the health system's focus on the COVID‐19 epidemic, the control of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has received less attention. In this review, we will discuss the characteristics of COVID‐19 in HIV‐positive patients. Material and Methods Using the PRISMA guideline, the databases of Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched systematically from January 1, 2019 to February 24, 2021. The following keywords were used: “Human Immunodeficiency Virus,” “acquired immune deficiency syndrome,” “HIV,” “AIDS,” “COVID‐19,” “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,” “novel coronavirus,” “SARS‐CoV‐2,” “nCoV disease,” “SARS2,” and “2019‐nCoV disease.” Results Twenty‐one percent of studies were conducted in the USA (n = 13), 16% in China (n = 10), and 13% in Italy (n = 8), respectively. The majority of the patients were men (74.3%). Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate was used in 47.4% of patients, emtricitabine in 58.4%, and lamivudine in 34.8% to treat HIV. Symptoms of HIV patients with COVID‐19 included coughing (81.3%), fever (62.8%), and dyspnea (60%). Hydroxychloroquine (39.34%) and azithromycin (36.58%) were the common treatment options for COVID‐19. The total death rate in HIV‐positive patients with COVID‐19 was about 9%. Conclusion In the current systematic review, we demonstrated that HIV‐positive patients co‐infected with COVID‐19 have high comorbidity of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. HIV/COVID‐19 co‐infection might have negatively influenced the HIV treatment and diagnosis, which indicates the need to regularly screen HIV patients in the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Clinical symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of COVID‐19‐associated encephalitis: A systematic review of case reports and case series

“…Fever (70.37%) and respiratory failure (68.51%) were the most common symptoms of COVID‐19 in our evaluation. Heidary et al 19 achieved the same results in their study. They reported that clinical symptoms of COVID‐19 included coughing (81.3%), fever (62.8%), and dyspnea (60%).…”

Clinical manifestations, treatment options, and comorbidities in COVID‐19 relapse patients: A systematic review

“…Although studies have shown that underlying conditions cause the severity of COVID‐19 disease, but how each of these factors contribute to reinfection should be examined by designing new studies determining these effects separately or in combination. 28 , 29 …”

“…In addition, obesity (32.5%), kidney failure (30.7%), and hypertension (30.1%) were the most frequent underlying comorbidities observed among COVID‐19 relapse patients. Although studies have shown that underlying conditions cause the severity of COVID‐19 disease, but how each of these factors contribute to reinfection should be examined by designing new studies determining these effects separately or in combination 28,29 …”

“…Although studies have shown that underlying conditions cause the severity of COVID-19 disease, but how each of these factors contribute to reinfection should be examined by designing new studies determining these effects separately or in combination. 28,29 The clinical features of patients with reinfection are similar to those of primary infection. The presence of asymptomatic patients among reactivated patients caused the recurrence of the asymptomatic contamination or infection with few symptoms.…”

Comparison of clinical, radiological and laboratory findings in discharged and dead patients with COVID-19

“…SARS-CoV-2 infection is asymptomatic or mild, but in most cases, it resembles the common cold ( 10 , 11 ). In more severe cases, the infection may clinically manifest as interstitial pneumonia with fever, cough, dyspnea, and bilateral infiltrates on chest imaging ( 12 , 13 ). It also may progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiple-organ failure, and even death, likely as a consequence of excessive activation of the immune system that leads to a cytokine storm ( 14 ).…”