Long-coronavirus disease among people living with HIV n western India: An observational study

Background: Long-COVID is emerging as a significant problem among individuals who recovered from COVID-19. Scant information is available on the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors for long-COVID among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Setting: A tertiary level, private, HIV clinic in western India. Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted to assess the prevalence of long-COVID among PLHIV. Long-COVID was defined as the presence of at least one symptom after 30 days of illness onset. A questionnaire for assessing general, cardiorespiratory, neuro-psychiatric, and gastro-intestinal symptoms was used to screen individuals with history of confirmed COVID-19. Data on demographics, HIV-related variables, comorbidities, and severity of COVID-19 were abstracted from electronic medical records. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify risk factors for long-COVID. Results: Ninety-four PLHIV were screened for long-COVID. Median (interquartile range [1QR]) age was 51 (47-56) years and 73.4% were males. The majority (76.6%) had a history of asymptomatic-mild COVID-19 illness. The prevalence of long-COVID was 43.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 33.4-54.2). Moderate-severe COVID-19 illness was significantly associated with long-COVID (adjusted odds ratio, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.4-17.9; p = .016). Among individuals with long-COVID, cough (22.3%) and fatigue (19.1%) were the commonest symptoms. The median (IQR) duration for resolution of symptoms was 15 (7-30) days. Ten individuals (10.6%) had persistent symptoms at a median of 109 days since the onset of COVID-19. Conclusion: Long-COVID is common among PLHIV with moderate-severe acute COVID-19 illness. There is a need for integration of long-COVID diagnosis and care services within antiretroviral therapy clinics for PLHIV with COVID-19.