• Bruguera Riera, Andreu
• Deig, Elisabet
• Peraire, Joaquim
• Falcó, Vicenç
• Fanjul, Francisco Javier
• Aceiton, Jordi
• Miró, José M.
• Moreno-Fornés, Sergio
• Llibre, Josep M.
• Casabona, Jordi
• Imaz, Arkaitz
• Reyes-Urueña, Juliana
• Díaz, Yesika
• Inciarte, Alexy
• Domingo, Pere
• Nomah, Daniel Kwakye

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disproportionately affects migrants and ethnic minorities, including those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Comprehensive studies are needed to understand the impact and risk factors.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Using data from the PISCIS cohort of people with HIV (PWH) in Catalonia, Spain, we investigated COVID-19 outcomes and vaccination coverage. Among 10 640 PWH we compared migrants and non-migrants assessing rates of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing, diagnosis, and associated clinical outcomes through propensity score matching and multivariable Cox regression.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The cohort (mean age, 43 years; 83.5% male) included 57.4% (3053) Latin American migrants. Migrants with HIV (MWH) had fewer SARS-CoV-2 tests (67.8% vs 72.1%, P &amp;lt; .0001) but similar COVID-19 diagnoses (29.2% vs 29.4%, P = .847) compared to Spanish natives. Migrants had lower complete vaccination (78.9% vs 85.1%, P &amp;lt; .0001) and booster doses (63.0% vs 65.5%, P = .027). COVID-19 hospitalizations (8.1% vs 5.1%, P &amp;lt; .0001) and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (2.9% vs 1.2%, P &amp;lt; .0001) were higher among migrants, with similar hospitalization duration (5.5 vs 4.0 days, P = .098) and mortality (3 [0.2%] vs 6 [0.4%], P = .510). Age ≥40 years, CD4 counts &amp;lt;200 cells/μL, ≥2 comorbidities, and incomplete/nonreception of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine increased the risk of severe COVID-19 among migrants.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>MWH had lower rates of SARS-CoV-2 testing and vaccination coverage, although the rates of COVID-19 diagnosis were similar between migrants and non-migrants. Rates of COVID-19–associated hospitalizations and ICU admissions were higher among migrants in comparison with non-migrants, with similar hospitalization duration and mortality. These findings can inform policies to address disparities in future pandemic responses for MWH.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Topics

• size-exclusion chromatography