Introduction
People living with HIV who are lost to follow‐up have a greater risk of health deterioration, mortality, and community transmission.
Objective
Our aim was to analyse both how rates of ...loss to follow‐up (LTFU) changed between 2006 and 2020 and how the COVID‐19 pandemic affected these rates in the PISCIS cohort study of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.
Methods
We analysed socio‐demographic and clinical characteristics of LTFU yearly and with adjusted odds ratios to assess the impact of these determinants on LTFU in 2020 (the year of COVID‐19). We used latent class analysis to categorize classes of LTFU based on their socio‐demographic and clinical characteristics at each year.
Results
In total, 16.7% of the cohort were lost to follow‐up at any time in the 15 years (n = 19 417). Of people living with HIV who were receiving follow‐up, 81.5% were male and 19.5% were female; of those who were lost to follow‐up, 79.6% and 20.4% were male and female, respectively (p < 0.001). Although rates of LTFU increased during COVID‐19 (1.11% vs. 0.86%, p = 0.024), socio‐demographic and clinical factors were similar. Eight classes of people living with HIV who were lost to follow‐up were identified: six for men and two for women. Classes of men (n = 3) differed in terms of their country of birth, viral load (VL), and antiretroviral therapy (ART); classes of people who inject drugs (n = 2) differed in terms of VL, AIDS diagnosis, and ART. Changes in rates of LTFU included higher CD4 cell count and undetectable VL.
Conclusions
The socio‐demographic and clinical characteristics of people living with HIV changed over time. Although the circumstances of the COVID‐19 pandemic increased the rates of LTFU, the characteristics of these people were similar. Epidemiological trends among people who were lost to follow‐up can be used to prevent new losses of care and to reduce barriers to achieve Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 95‐95‐95 targets.
People with HIV (PWH) may be more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and worse clinical outcomes. We investigated the disparity in SARS-CoV-2 vaccination coverage between PWH and those without HIV ...(PWoH) in Catalonia, Spain, assessing primary and monovalent booster vaccination coverage from December 2021 to July 2022. The vaccines administered were BNT162, ChAdOx1-S, mRNA-127, and Ad26.COV2.S. Using a 1:10 ratio of PWH to PWoH based on sex, age, and socioeconomic deprivation, the analysis included 201,630 individuals (183,300 PWoH and 18,330 PWH). Despite a higher prevalence of comorbidities, PWH exhibited lower rates of complete primary vaccination (78.2% vs. 81.8%,
< 0.001) but surpassed PWoH in booster coverage (68.5% vs. 63.1%,
< 0.001). Notably, complete vaccination rates were lower among PWH with CD4 <200 cells/μL, detectable HIV viremia, and migrants compared to PWoH (
< 0.001, all). However, PWH with CD4 < 200 cells/μL received more boosters (
< 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis of the overall population, a prior SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, HIV status, migrants, and mild-to-severe socioeconomic deprivation were associated with lower primary vaccination coverage, reflecting barriers to healthcare and vaccine access. However, booster vaccination was higher among PWH. Targeted interventions are needed to improve vaccine coverage and address hesitancy in vulnerable populations.
We investigated differences in mpox clinical outcomes in people with HIV (PWH) and without HIV (PWoH) and the impact of vaccination in Catalonia, Spain. We used surveillance data and the PISCIS HIV ...cohort. We included all confirmed mpox cases (May–December 2022). Of 2122 mpox cases, the majority had mild disease, 56% were Spanish, and 24% were from Latin America. A total of 40% were PWH, with a median CD4+T-cell of 715 cells/μL; 83% had HIV-RNA < 50 copies/mL; and 1.8% CD4+T-cell < 200 cells/μL. PWH had no increased risk for complications, except those with CD4+T-cell < 200 cells/μL. PWH with CD4+T-cell < 200 cells/μL were more likely to be from Latin America, had more generalized exanthema, and required hospitalization more frequently (p = 0.001). Diagnosis of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was common, both at mpox diagnosis (17%) and two years before (43%). Dose-sparing smallpox intradermal vaccination was accompanied by a sharp decrease in mpox incidence in both populations (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, unless immunosuppressed, PWH were not at increased risk of severe disease or hospitalization. Mpox is a marker of high-risk sexual behavior and was associated with high HIV and STI rates, supporting the need for screening in all mpox cases. Ethnicity disparities demonstrate the need for interventions to ensure equitable healthcare access. Dose-sparing smallpox vaccination retained effectiveness.
People living with HIV (PLWH) are prioritised for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination due to their vulnerability to severe COVID-19. Therefore, the epidemiological surveillance of vaccination coverage and the ...timely identification of suboptimally vaccinated PLWH is vital. We assessed SARS-CoV-2 vaccination coverage and factors associated with under-vaccination among PLWH in Catalonia, Spain. As of 11.12.2021, 9945/14942 PLWH (66.6%) had received ≥1 dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Non-Spanish origin (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.64, 95% CI 0.59−0.70), CD4 count of 200−349 cells/μL (aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.64−0.86) or 350−499 cells/μL (aOR 0.79, 95% CI 0.70−0.88), detectable plasma HIV-RNA (aOR 0.61 95% CI 0.53−0.70), and previous SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis (aOR 0.58 95% CI 0.51−0.65) were associated with under-vaccination. SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis (437 9.5% vs. 323 3.5%, p < 0.001), associated hospitalisations (10 2.3% vs. 0 0%, p < 0.001), intensive care unit admissions (6 1.4% vs. 0 0%, p < 0.001), and deaths (10 2.3% vs. 0 0%, p < 0.001) were higher among unvaccinated PLWH. Vaccination coverage was lower among PLWH with a CD4 count >200 cells/μL, detectable plasma HIV-RNA, previous SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, and migrants. SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, associated hospitalisations, and deaths among PLWH were lower among the vaccinated compared with the unvaccinated. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination prioritisation has not completely reached vulnerable PLWH with poorer prognosis. This information can be used to inform public health strategies.
People with HIV (PWH) have a higher cardiovascular risk than the general population. It remains unclear, however, whether the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is higher in late HIV presenters ...(LP; CD4 ≤ 350 cells/μL at HIV diagnosis) compared to PWH diagnosed early. We aimed to assess the rates of incident cardiovascular events (CVEs) following ART initiation among LP compared to non-LP.
From the prospective, multicentre PISCIS cohort, we included all adult people with HIV (PWH) initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 2005 and 2019 without prior CVE. Additional data were extracted from public health registries. The primary outcome was the incidence of first CVE (ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular, or peripheral vascular disease). The secondary outcome was all-cause mortality after the first CVE. We used Poisson regression.
We included 3,317 PWH 26 589.1 person/years (PY): 1761 LP and 1556 non-LP. Overall, 163 (4.9%) experienced a CVE IR 6.1/1000PY (95%CI: 5.3-7.1): 105 (6.0%) LP vs. 58 (3.7%) non-LP. No differences were observed in the multivariate analysis adjusting for age, transmission mode, comorbidities, and calendar time, regardless of CD4 at ART initiation aIRR 0.92 (0.62-1.36) and 0.84 (0.56-1.26) in LP with CD4 count <200 and 200- ≤ 350 cells/μL, respectively, compared to non-LP. Overall mortality was 8.5% in LP
2.3% in non-LP (
< 0.001). Mortality after the CVE was 31/163 (19.0%), with no differences between groups aMRR 1.24 (0.45-3.44). Women
. MSM and individuals with chronic lung and liver disease experienced particularly high mortality after the CVE aMRR 5.89 (1.35-25.60), 5.06 (1.61-15.91), and 3.49 (1.08-11.26), respectively. Sensitivity analyses including only PWH surviving the first 2 years yielded similar results.
CVD remains a common cause of morbidity and mortality among PWH. LP without prior CVD did not exhibit an increased long-term risk of CVE compared with non-LP. Identifying traditional cardiovascular risk factors is essential for CVD risk reduction in this population.
Electronic health records are becoming an increasingly valuable resource for epidemiology but their data quality needs to be quantified. We aimed to validate twenty-five types of incident cancer ...cases in the Information System for Research in Primary Care (SIDIAP) in Catalonia with the population-based cancer registries of Girona and Tarragona as the gold-standard.
We calculated the sensitivity, positive predictive values (PPV), and the time-difference between the date of diagnosis entered into the SIDIAP and into the registries. We added hospital discharge cancer diagnoses to the SIDIAP to assess sensitivity changes.
We identified 27,046 incident cancer diagnoses in the SIDIAP from 2009-2015 among the 949,841 residents of Girona and Tarragona. The cancer types with the highest sensitivity were breast (89%, 95% CI: 88-90%), colorectal (81%, 95% CI: 80-82%), and prostate (81%, 95% CI: 80-83%). Trachea, bronchus and lung cancers had the highest PPV (76%, 95% CI: 74%-78%) followed by stomach (72%, 95% CI: 68-75%) and pancreas (71%, 95% CI: 67-75%). Most cancer diagnoses were reported with less than three months of difference between the SIDIAP and the registries. More cases were registered first in the registries than in the SIDIAP. By adding cancer diagnoses based on hospital discharge data, sensitivity increased for all cancers, especially for gallbladder and biliary tract for which the sensitivity increased by 21%.
The SIDIAP includes 76% of the cancer diagnoses in the cancer registries but includes a considerable number of cases that are not in the registries. The SIDIAP reports most of the cancer diagnoses within a three-month period difference from the date of diagnosis in the cancer registries. Our results support the use of the SIDIAP cancer diagnoses for epidemiological research when cancer is the outcome of interest. We recommend adding hospital discharge data to the SIDIAP to increase data quality, particularly for less frequent cancer types.
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.
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.
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%,
< .0001) but similar COVID-19 diagnoses (29.2% vs 29.4%,
= .847) compared to Spanish natives. Migrants had lower complete vaccination (78.9% vs 85.1%,
< .0001) and booster doses (63.0% vs 65.5%,
= .027). COVID-19 hospitalizations (8.1% vs 5.1%,
< .0001) and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (2.9% vs 1.2%,
< .0001) were higher among migrants, with similar hospitalization duration (5.5 vs 4.0 days,
= .098) and mortality (3 0.2% vs 6 0.4%,
= .510). Age ≥40 years, CD4 counts <200 cells/μL, ≥2 comorbidities, and incomplete/nonreception of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine increased the risk of severe COVID-19 among migrants.
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.
Abstract
Background
Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) has substantially reduced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related deaths, shifting the focus to non-AIDS conditions in people ...living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH). We examined mortality trends and predictors of AIDS- and non-AIDS mortality in the Population HIV Cohort from Catalonia and Balearic Islands (PISCIS) cohort of PLWH from 1998 to 2020.
Methods
We used a modified Coding Causes of Death in HIV protocol, which has been widely adopted by various HIV cohorts to classify mortality causes. We applied standardized mortality rates (SMR) to compare with the general population and used competing risks models to determine AIDS-related and non-AIDS-related mortality predictors.
Results
Among 30 394 PLWH (81.5% male, median age at death 47.3), crude mortality was 14.2 per 1000 person-years. All-cause standardized mortality rates dropped from 9.6 (95% confidence interval CI, 8.45–10.90) in 1998 through 2003 to 3.33 (95% CI, 3.14–3.53) in 2015 through 2020, P for trend = .0001. Major causes were AIDS, non-AIDS cancers, cardiovascular disease, AIDS-defining cancers, viral hepatitis, and nonhepatitis liver disease. Predictors for AIDS-related mortality included being aged ≥40 years, not being a man who have sex with men, history of AIDS-defining illnesses, CD4 < 200 cells/µL, ≥2 comorbidities, and nonreceipt of ART. Non-AIDS mortality increased with age, injection drug use, heterosexual men, socioeconomic deprivation, CD4 200 to 349 cells/µL, nonreceipt of ART, and comorbidities, but migrants had lower risk (adjusted hazard risk, 0.69 95% CI, .57–.83).
Conclusions
Mortality rates among PLWH have significantly decreased over the past 2 decades, with a notable shift toward non–AIDS-related causes. Continuous monitoring and effective management of these non-AIDS conditions are essential to enhance overall health outcomes.
We analyzed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and non-AIDS deaths among people with human immunodeficiency virus in Catalonia, Spain, from 1998 through 2020. Leading causes were AIDS, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. AIDS-related causes decreased, whereas non-AIDS causes increased highlighting the need for continuous monitoring of these conditions.
eConsulta is a tele-consultation service involving doctors and patients, and is part of Catalonia's public health information technology system. The service has been in operation since the end of ...2015 as an adjunct to face-to-face consultations. A key factor in understanding the barriers and facilitators to the acceptance of the tool is understanding the sociodemographic characteristics of general practitioners who determine its use.
This study aimed to analyze the sociodemographic factors that affect the likelihood of doctors using eConsulta.
A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of administrative data was used to perform a multivariate logistic regression analysis on the use of eConsulta in relation to sociodemographic variables.
The model shows that the doctors who use eConsulta are 45-54 years of age, score higher than the 80th percentile on the quality of care index, have a high degree of accessibility, are involved in teaching, and work on a health team in a high socioeconomic urban setting.
The results suggest that certain sociodemographic characteristics associated with general practitioners determine whether they use eConsulta. These results must be taken into account if its deployment is to be encouraged in the context of a public health system.
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