Background: 

Empirical data on the consequences of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on HIV care are lacking. We surveyed people living with HIV (PLWH) in different countries to investigate whether their medical follow-up and psychosocial well-being had been compromised due to COVID-19 and associated restrictions.

Methods: 

In April 2020, a cross-sectional survey among PLWH was conducted using a web-based multilingual questionnaire. The research tool assessed HIV follow-up, psychosocial well-being, COVID-19 (flu-like) symptoms and prevention measures. Consenting respondents provided answers anonymously.

Results: 

Three hundred seventeen PLWH were included (mean age 43.4 ± 11.7; 71.6% men); 60.3% of participants resided in Belgium and Brazil. One hundred forty (44.2%) reported experiencing a cold with at least one flu-like symptom since January 2020. Of the 18 who reported COVID-19 test results, 4 (22.2%) were positive. Seventy-four (23.3%) respondents screened positive for major depressive disorders, whereas 72 (22.7%) had generalized anxiety disorders. Fifty-six (17.7%) respondents reported difficulties in obtaining antiretroviral medications because of COVID-19–related measures. Adaptations of HIV care during the COVID-19 outbreak included greater quantities of antiretroviral refill in 67 (21.1%), phone consultations in 25 (7.9%), and new refill sites in 12 (3.9%). Factors associated with a reduced risk of experiencing flu-like symptoms included flu vaccination during the past 12 months (P = 0.005) and adaptations of HIV care during the COVID-19 pandemic (P = 0.010).

Conclusion: 

COVID-19 and associated restrictive measures seem detrimental to the well-being and follow-up of PLWH. We recommend that health systems devise innovative approaches for antiretroviral provision and psychosocial support to PLWH during such outbreaks.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19大流行对艾滋病病毒感染者的医疗跟进和社会心理健康的影响：跨行业调查

背景： 

缺乏关于新型冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行对HIV护理造成的后果的经验数据。我们对不同国家的艾滋病毒感染者（PLWH）进行了调查，以调查他们的医疗随访和心理社会福利是否因COVID-19和相关限制而受到损害。

方法： 

2020年4月，使用基于网络的多语言问卷对PLWH进行了横断面调查。该研究工具评估了艾滋病毒的随访情况，社会心理健康状况，COVID-19（类似流感）症状和预防措施。同意的受访者匿名提供了答案。

结果： 

包括317个PLWH（平均年龄43.4±11.7；男性为71.6％）；60.3％的参与者居住在比利时和巴西。自2020年1月以来，一百四十（44.2％）报告患有感冒且至少有一种流感样症状。在报告COVID-19测试结果的18名患者中，有4名（22.2％）呈阳性。七十四名（23.3％）的受访者筛查出严重抑郁症呈阳性，而72名（22.7％）的患者普遍患有焦虑症。五十六（17.7％）名受访者表示，由于与COVID-19相关的措施，在获得抗逆转录病毒药物方面存在困难。在COVID-19期间对HIV护理的适应爆发包括67例（21.1％）的抗逆转录病毒补充剂，25例（7.9％）的电话咨询和12例（3.9％）的新补充剂站点。与发生流感样症状的风险降低相关的因素包括过去12个月中的流感疫苗接种（P = 0.005）和COVID-19大流行期间对HIV护理的适应性变化（P = 0.010）。

结论： 

COVID-19和相关的限制性措施似乎不利于PLWH的福祉和后续行动。我们建议卫生系统在此类暴发期间设计出创新的方法来提供抗逆转录病毒和对PLWH的社会心理支持。