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- Title
Prevalence of undiagnosed HIV in Venezuelan patients with suspected COVID-19 during the first wave: A complex syndemic.
- Authors
Restuccia, Daniela; Carrión-Nessi, Fhabián S.; Omaña-Ávila, Óscar D.; Mendoza-Millán, Daniela L.; Mejía-Bernard, Mario D.; Marcano-Rojas, María V.; Quintero, Adriana; Gasparini, Sebastián; Chacón, Fabián R.; Basso, Jorge G.; Rodríguez, Verónica A.; Freitas-De Nobrega, Diana C.; Forero-Peña, David A.
- Abstract
Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is deeper in resource-limited settings, including Venezuela, where its effects are compounded by the country's complex humanitarian crisis, inadequately resourced health systems, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics. Objective: To determine the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV in suspected COVID-19 patients during the first wave and their clinical-epidemiological characteristics at the main sentinel hospital in Caracas, Venezuela. Materials and methods: We cross-sectionally analyzed 118 consecutive suspected COVID-19 cases in the respiratory triage tent of the "Hospital Universitario de Caracas", Venezuela, between May and August, 2020. After signing the informed consent, clinical-epidemiological information was obtained from patients. HIV testing was performed using the ABON™ HIV 1/2/O Tri-Line HIV rapid test device. Results: Out of 118 COVID-19 patients, 5 were HIV positive. Compared to HIVnegative, a higher proportion of HIV-positive patients were homosexual (p<0.001), had sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol/drugs in the last six months (p=0.044), and had syphilis history (p<0.001). Fever (67.8%), dry cough (65.3%), headache (63.6%), dyspnea (54.2%) and asthenia (52.5%) were the most common symptoms. A higher proportion of skin lesions and lymphadenopathies were found in HIV-positive patients compared to HIV-negative ones (80% vs. 3.5%, p<0.001; 60% vs. 5.1%, p<0.001; respectively). Conclusion: The healthcare focus on COVID-19 has neglected other pathologies such as HIV, contributing to a lower rate of people diagnosed early. Expanding HIV screening and linking it to COVID-19 care are important public health initiatives that should continue to be employed in the Venezuelan health system.
- Subjects
COVID-19 pandemic; SYNDEMICS
- Publication
Biomédica: Revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud, 2022, Vol 42, p151
- ISSN
0120-4157
- Publication type
Article