# A Pilot Study of COVID-19 Outcomes in People Living with HIV in Tatarstan

## TL;DR

This study finds that people with HIV who contract COVID-19 face higher risks of severe illness and death compared to those without HIV.

## Contribution

The study provides preliminary evidence of increased severity and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines in PLWH with COVID-19.

## Key findings

- PLWH with COVID-19 had a higher risk of severe outcomes and four fatalities compared to non-HIV patients with COVID-19.
- Pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, and IL-15 were elevated in PLWH with COVID-19.
- The findings suggest a potential pathogenic role of cytokines in severe outcomes among PLWH with COVID-19.

## Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains a significant public health threat globally with significant socio-economic impacts. People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH) have a high risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19 due to immunosuppression. Clinical manifestation of COVID-19 in HIV patients largely remains unclear. We carried out a pilot study to investigate the clinical laboratory data and circulating cytokines in PLWH infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in Tatarstan, Russia. Serum samples were collected from three groups: PLWH with COVID-19 (PLWH/COVID-19), COVID-19-only, and uninfected controls. We found an increased risk of severe COVID-19 in PLWH/COVID-19 patients compared to COVID-19-only. Four fatal cases were in PLWH/COVID-19, while there was no fatality in COVID-19-only. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, and IL-15, were elevated in PLWH/COVID-19 compered to COVID-19-only. These preliminary findings highlight the potential for more severe COVID-19 in PLWH/COVID-19 where pro-inflammatory cytokines could play pathogenic role.