Clinical Features and Outcomes of Coronavirus Disease 2019 among People with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the United States: A Multicenter Study from a Large Global Health Research Network (TriNetX)

Background Human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) is a presumed risk factor for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), yet little is known about COVID-19 outcomes in people with HIV (PWH). Methods We used the TriNetX database to compare COVID-19 outcomes of PWH and HIV-negative controls aged ≥18 years who sought care in 44 healthcare centers in the United States from January 1 to December 1, 2020. Outcomes of interest were rates of hospitalization (composite of inpatient non-intensive care [ICU] and ICU admissions), mechanical ventilation, severe disease (ICU admission or death), and 30-day mortality. Results Of 297 194 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 1638 (0.6%) were HIV-infected, with >83% on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 48% virally suppressed. Overall, PWH were more commonly younger, male, African American or Hispanic, had more comorbidities, were more symptomatic, and had elevated procalcitonin and interleukin 6. Mortality at 30 days was comparable between the 2 groups (2.9% vs 2.3%, P = .123); however, PWH had higher rates hospitalization (16.5% vs 7.6%, P < .001), ICU admissions (4.2% vs 2.3%, P < .001), and mechanical ventilation (2.4% vs 1.6%, P < .005). Among PWH, hospitalization was independently associated with male gender, being African American, integrase inhibitor use, and low CD4 count; whereas severe disease was predicted by older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 8.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-50.00; P = .044) and CD4 <200 cells/mm3 (aOR, 8.33; 95% CI, 1.06-50.00; P = .044). Conclusions People with HIV had higher rates of poor COVID-19 outcomes but were not more at risk of death than their non-HIV-infected counterparts. Older age and low CD4 count predicted adverse outcomes.