Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and coronavirus disease 2019; impact on vulnerable populations and harnessing lessons learnt from HIV programmes

A Cordie; M AbdAllah; A Vergori; B Kharono; M Karkouri; G Esmat

doi:10.1016/j.nmni.2021.100857

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and coronavirus disease 2019; impact on vulnerable populations and harnessing lessons learnt from HIV programmes

New Microbes New Infect. 2021 May:41:100857. doi: 10.1016/j.nmni.2021.100857. Epub 2021 Feb 27.

Authors

A Cordie¹, M AbdAllah², A Vergori³, B Kharono⁴, M Karkouri⁵, G Esmat¹

Affiliations

¹ Endemic Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
² Medical Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
³ HIV/AIDS Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases L.Spallanzani, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
⁴ University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
⁵ Association de Lutte Contre le Sida/Coalition Plus, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université Hassan II, Casablanca, Morocco.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can act as a dual prong attack against management of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); it induces harm on both individual and national levels. People living with HIV may show rapid deterioration in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection as a result of physiological or psychological vulnerability. Additionally, the spread of COVID-19-especially in low- and middle-income countries-may limit HIV control measures, delivery and linkage to HIV care and prevention. Attention should be given to pregnant women and the LGBTQI+ community for their higher susceptibility to poor outcomes. Engagement of both governmental and non-governmental organizations is encouraged for better results.

Keywords: Community role; LGBTQI+; coronavirus disease 2019; human immunodeficiency virus; outcome; pandemic; pregnancy; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; stigma; vulnerable groups.

Publication types

Review