Prospective study for the early detection of lung carcinoma in patients with HIV infection (GESIDA study 8815)

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer (LC) screening detects tumors early. The prospective GESIDA 8815 study was designed to assess the usefulness of this strategy in HIV + people (PLHIV) by performing a low-radiation computed tomography (CT) scan.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

371 heavy smokers patients were included (>20 packs/year), >45 years old and with a CD4+ <200 mm3 nadir. One visit and CT scan were performed at baseline and 4 for follow-up time annually.

RESULTS

329 patients underwent the baseline visit and CT (CT0) and 206 completed the study (CT1 = 285; CT2 = 259; CT3 = 232; CT4 = 206). All were receiving ART. A total >8 mm lung nodules were detected, and 9 early-stage PCs were diagnosed (4 on CT1, 2 on CT2, 1 on CT3 and 2 on CT4). There were no differences between those who developed LC and those who did not in sex, age, CD4+ nadir, previous lung disease, family history, or amount of packets/year. At each visit, other pathologies were diagnosed, mainly COPD, calcified coronary artery and residual tuberculosis lesions. At the end of the study, 38 patients quit smoking and 75 reduced their consumption. Two patients died from LC and 16 from other causes (p = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONS

The design of the present study did not allow us to define the real usefulness of the strategy. Adherence to the test progressively decreased over time. The diagnosis of other thoracic pathologies is very frequent. Including smokers in an early diagnosis protocol for LC could help to quit smoking.

Mitochondrial Haplogroups and Weight Gain After Initiating ART in Patients with HIV

We studied the association of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups with weight and body mass index (BMI) gain at 96 weeks in 1,019 treatment-naïve persons with HIV (PWH) who initiated first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) since 2014. The mean increase in weight and BMI over the study period was 2.90 Kg and 0.98 Kg/m2, respectively. We found a significant adjusted association between the major UK mtDNA haplogroup and lower weight and BMI increase at 96 weeks after ART initiation. Our findings reveal a potential role for mitochondrial genetics in the complex phenomenon of weight gain after initial ART in PWH.

HIV medical care interruption among people living with HIV in Spain, 2004-2020

OBJECTIVE

We estimated the incidence rate of HIV medical care interruption (MCI) and its evolution over a 16-year-period, and identified associated risk factors among HIV-positive individuals from the Cohort of the Spanish AIDS Research Network in 2004-2020.

DESIGN

We included antiretroviral-naive individuals aged at least 18 years at enrolment, recruited between January 1, 2004, and August 30, 2019, and followed-up until November 30, 2020.

METHODS

Individuals with any time interval of at least 15 months between two visits were defined as having a MCI. We calculated the incidence rate (IR) of having at least one MCI and used multivariable Poisson regression models to identify associated risk factors.

RESULTS

Of 15 274 individuals, 5481 (35.9%) had at least one MCI. Of those, 2536 (46.3%) returned to HIV care after MCI and 3753 (68.5%) were lost to follow-up at the end of the study period. The incidence rate (IR) of MCI was 7.2/100 person-years (py) [95% confidence interval (CI): 7.0-7.4]. The annual IR gradually decreased from 20.5/100 py (95% CI: 16.4-25.6) in 2004 to 4.9/100 py (95% CI: 4.4-5.5) in 2014, a slight increase was observed between 2015 and 2018, reaching 9.3/100 py (95% CI: 8.6-10.2) in 2019. Risk factors for MCI included younger age, lower educational level, having contracted HIV infection through injecting drug use or heterosexual intercourse, having been born outside of Spain, and CD4 + cell count >200 cell/μl, viral load <100 000 and co-infection with hepatitis C virus at enrolment.

CONCLUSIONS

Around a third of individuals had at least one MCI during the follow-up. Identified predictors of MCI can help health workers to target and support most vulnerable individuals.

Obesity-Related Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Weight Gain Following First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy

BACKGROUND

We studied the association of obesity-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (OR-SNPs) with weight gain after antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PWH).

METHODS

Participants were ART-naive PWH from the Spanish HIV Research Cohort who started ART from 2014 onward and had blood/DNA deposited in the cohort Biobank. The primary outcome was change in weight at 96 weeks after starting ART. We genotyped 14 OR-SNPs from a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of body mass index (BMI) loci. Changes over time in weight and BMI were studied using adjusted linear mixed models.

RESULTS

A total of 1021 PWH were included. The mean weight gain over 96 weeks was 2.90 (95% confidence interval, 2.54-3.26) kg. Factors associated with higher weight gain were female sex, birth in sub-Saharan Africa, prior AIDS, CD4+ <200 cells/µL, HIV-RNA >100 000 copies/mL, negative hepatitis C virus serology, and use of tenofovir alafenamide. A significant association was found between ZC3H4 rs3810291 GG genotype and BCDIN3D/FAIM2 rs7138803 GG genotype polymorphisms and weight and BMI increase. The estimated adjusted mean (standard error [SE]) of weight gain was 4.26 (0.56) kg in ZC3H4 rs3810291 GG carriers and 2.66 (0.19) kg in AA/AG carriers (P = .007). Likewise the estimated weight gain at 96 weeks was 3.35 (0.29) kg in BCDIN3D/FAIM2 rs7138803 GG carriers and 2.51 (0.24) kg in AG/AA carriers (P = .020).

CONCLUSIONS

Genetic factors may play a role in weight gain after ART initiation. Further work is needed to replicate our findings and understand how the identified SNPs lead to higher weight gain in this context.

Progress in the quality of care for newly diagnosed people with HIV in Spain (2004-2019)

BACKGROUND

We monitored the quality of care for newly diagnosed people with HIV (PWH) in Spain, including linkage to care within 1 month of HIV diagnosis (LC-1Mo) and viral suppression within 3 months of HIV diagnosis (VS-3Mo).

METHODS

Longitudinal study based on The Cohort of the Spanish AIDS Research Network (CoRIS). We used logistic regression stratified by year of HIV diagnosis (2004-2013 and 2014-2019) to assess differences by sex, country of origin, HIV risk group, age, prior AIDS, HIV Viral Load, and CD4 cell count.

RESULTS

The final analysis included 13,632 PWH: males 85%, men having sex with men (MSM) 61%, median age 35 years. LC-1Mo increased from 42% (95% CI, 38%-46%) in 2004 to 80% (95% CI, 77%-83%) in 2019 (P < 0.001). Median CD4⁺ cell counts at ART initiation increased from <250/mm3 in 2004-2005 to >350/mm3 since 2012 (P < 0.001). The percentage of initial regimens based on integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI) increased from 3% in 2004 to >70% from 2016 onwards (P < 0.001). VS-3Mo increased from 6% (95% CI, 4%-8%) in 2004 to 45% (95% CI, 41%-49%) in 2019 (P < 0.001). Worst results for LC-1Mo were found among PWH acquiring HIV by injection drug use and those born in Latin American Countries across all the study period.

CONCLUSION

Care indicators have improved among newly diagnosed PWH in Spain over the last 15 years. Removal of CD4 cell counts limitations, and probably the increasing use of INSTI-based regimens was decisive for the progress made.

Use of Generic Antiretroviral Drugs and Single-Tablet Regimen De-Simplification for the Treatment of HIV Infection in Spain

The present study sought to describe the use of generic drugs and single-tablet regimen (STR) de-simplification for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among 41 hospitals from the cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS). In June 2018, we collected information on when generic antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) were introduced in the different hospitals, how the decisions to use them were made, and how the information was provided to the patients. Most of the nine available generic ARVs in Spain by June 2018 had been introduced in at least 85% of the participating hospitals, except for zidovudine (AZT)/lamivudine (3TC) and AZT. The time difference between the effective marketing date of each generic ARV and its first dispensing date in the hospitals was much shorter for the more recently approved generic ARV since the year 2017. However, only up to 20% of the hospitals de-simplified efavirenz (EFV)/tenofovir disoproxil (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC), dolutegravir (DTG)/abacavir (ABC)/3TC, and rilpivirine (RPV)/TDF/FTC (to generic EFV+TDF/FTC, DTG+generic ABC/3TC, and RPV+generic TDF/FTC, respectively), whereas the generic STR EFV/TDF/FTC was introduced in 87.8% of the centers. The median times between the date of effective marketing of generic TDF/FTC and the date of de-simplification of EFV/TDF/FTC and RPV/TDF/FTC were 723 [interquartile range (IQR): 369-1,119] and 234 (IQR: 142-264) days, respectively; this time was 155 (IQR: 28-287) days for de-simplification of DTG/ABC/3TC. In conclusion, despite the widespread use of generic ARVs, STRs de-simplification was only undertaken in <20% of the hospitals. There was wide variability in the timing of the introduction of each generic ARV after they were available in the market.

Low CD4/CD8 ratio is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in late and non-late presenters: results from a multicentre cohort study, 2004–2018

Background

To study whether the association between the CD4/CD8 ratio variation over time and the development of clinical outcomes vary in late presenters (CD4 count < 350/µL or AIDS event at enrolment) or advanced presenters (CD4 count < 200/µL or AIDS event at enrolment).

Methods

We included ART-naïve adults from the Cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS) enrolled between January 2004 up to November 2018 and with at least 6 months of follow-up. We used extended Cox proportional hazard models to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) for the association between CD4/CD8 ratio over time and a composite endpoint of the occurrence of the first AIDS event, first serious non-AIDS event or overall mortality occurring from 6 months after enrolment. HRs in non-late, late and advanced presenters were obtained by including an interaction term between late presentation status and CD4/CD8 ratio over time.

Results

Of 10,018 participants, 55.6% were late presenters and 26.5% were advanced presenters. Compared with CD4/CD8 ratio > 0.4, CD4/CD8 ratio ≤ 0.4 over time was associated with an increased risk of experiencing the composite endpoint in non-late (HR 1.90; 95%CI 1.48, 2.43), late (HR 1.94; 1.46, 2.57) and advanced presenters (HR 1.72; 1.26, 2.34). Similarly, CD4/CD8 ratio ≤ 0.4 over time was associated with a higher risk of developing an AIDS event (HR 3.31; 2.23, 4.93 in non-late; HR 2.75; 1.78, 4.27 in late and HR 2.25; 1.34, 3.76 in advanced presenters) or serious non-AIDS event (HR 1.39; 0.96, 2.02 in non-late, HR 1.62; 1.10, 2.40 in late and HR 1.49; 0.97, 2.29 in advanced presenters) as well as with a higher risk of overall mortality (HR 1.49; 0.92, 2.41 in non-late, HR 1.80; 1.04, 3.11 in late and HR 1.61; 0.92, 2.83 in advanced presenters) compared to CD4/CD8 > 0.4, regardless of the late presentation status.

Conclusions

A low CD4/CD8 measured over time is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality in people living with HIV independently of their late presentation status. These data support the prognostic role of CD4/CD8 over time and can help defining a subgroup of patients who need closer monitoring to avoid comorbidities.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-022-07352-z.

Impact of early interferon-β treatment on the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 in the first wave: A post hoc analysis from a multicenter cohort

BACKGROUND

Interferon-β is an attractive drug for repurposing and use in the treatment of COVID-19, based on its in vitro antiviral activity and the encouraging results from clinical trials. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of early interferon-β treatment in patients admitted with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic.

METHODS

This post hoc analysis of a COVID-19@Spain multicenter cohort included 3808 consecutive adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from 1 January to 17 March 2020. The primary endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality, and the main exposure of interest was subcutaneous administration of interferon-β, defined as early if started ≤ 3 days from admission. Multivariate logistic and Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify the associations of different variables with receiving early interferon-β therapy and to assess its impact on 30-day mortality. A propensity score was calculated and used to both control for confounders and perform a matched cohort analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 683 patients (17.9%) received early interferon-β therapy. These patients were more severely ill. Adjusted HR for mortality with early interferon-β was 1.03 (95% CI, 0.82-1.30) in the overall cohort, 0.96 (0.82-1.13) in the PS-matched subcohort, and 0.89 (0.60-1.32) when interferon-β treatment was analyzed as a time-dependent variable.

CONCLUSIONS

In this multicenter cohort of admitted COVID-19 patients, receiving early interferon-β therapy after hospital admission did not show an association with lower mortality. Whether interferon-β might be useful in the earlier stages of the disease or specific subgroups of patients requires further research.

Epidemiological trends of HIV/HCV coinfection in Spain, 2015-2019

Objectives

We assessed the prevalence of anti‐hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and active HCV infection (HCV‐RNA‐positive) in people living with HIV (PLWH) in Spain in 2019 and compared the results with those of four similar studies performed during 2015–2018.

Methods

The study was performed in 41 centres. Sample size was estimated for an accuracy of 1%. Patients were selected by random sampling with proportional allocation.

Results

The reference population comprised 41 973 PLWH, and the sample size was 1325. HCV serostatus was known in 1316 PLWH (99.3%), of whom 376 (28.6%) were HCV antibody (Ab)‐positive (78.7% were prior injection drug users); 29 were HCV‐RNA‐positive (2.2%). Of the 29 HCV‐RNA‐positive PLWH, infection was chronic in 24, it was acute/recent in one, and it was of unknown duration in four. Cirrhosis was present in 71 (5.4%) PLWH overall, three (10.3%) HCV‐RNA‐positive patients and 68 (23.4%) of those who cleared HCV after anti‐HCV therapy (p = 0.04). The prevalence of anti‐HCV antibodies decreased steadily from 37.7% in 2015 to 28.6% in 2019 (p < 0.001); the prevalence of active HCV infection decreased from 22.1% in 2015 to 2.2% in 2019 (p < 0.001). Uptake of anti‐HCV treatment increased from 53.9% in 2015 to 95.0% in 2019 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

In Spain, the prevalence of active HCV infection among PLWH at the end of 2019 was 2.2%, i.e. 90.0% lower than in 2015. Increased exposure to DAAs was probably the main reason for this sharp reduction. Despite the high coverage of treatment with direct‐acting antiviral agents, HCV‐related cirrhosis remains significant in this population.

COVID-19 in hospitalized HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients: A matched study

OBJECTIVES

We compared the characteristics and clinical outcomes of hospitalized individuals with COVID-19 with [people with HIV (PWH)] and without (non-PWH) HIV co-infection in Spain during the first wave of the pandemic.

METHODS

This was a retrospective matched cohort study. People with HIV were identified by reviewing clinical records and laboratory registries of 10 922 patients in active-follow-up within the Spanish HIV Research Network (CoRIS) up to 30 June 2020. Each hospitalized PWH was matched with five non-PWH of the same age and sex randomly selected from COVID-19@Spain, a multicentre cohort of 4035 patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19. The main outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

Forty-five PWH with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 were identified in CoRIS, 21 of whom were hospitalized. A total of 105 age/sex-matched controls were selected from the COVID-19@Spain cohort. The median age in both groups was 53 (Q1-Q3, 46-56) years, and 90.5% were men. In PWH, 19.1% were injecting drug users, 95.2% were on antiretroviral therapy, 94.4% had HIV-RNA < 50 copies/mL, and the median (Q1-Q3) CD4 count was 595 (349-798) cells/μL. No statistically significant differences were found between PWH and non-PWH in number of comorbidities, presenting signs and symptoms, laboratory parameters, radiology findings and severity scores on admission. Corticosteroids were administered to 33.3% and 27.4% of PWH and non-PWH, respectively (P = 0.580). Deaths during admission were documented in two (9.5%) PWH and 12 (11.4%) non-PWH (P = 0.800).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that well-controlled HIV infection does not modify the clinical presentation or worsen clinical outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalization.

HIV/HBV coinfection: temporal trends and patient characteristics, Spain, 2002 to 2018

Background

Recent and reliable estimates on the prevalence of coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Europe are lacking.

Aim

Leveraged on a study designed to assess HIV/HCV coinfection prevalence, we assessed the prevalence of HIV/HBV coinfection in Spain in 2018 and compared the results with five similar studies performed since 2002.

Methods

This cross-sectional prevalence study was carried out in 43 centres, and patients were selected using simple random sampling. The reference population comprised 40,322 patients and the sample size were 1,690 patients.

Results

The prevalence of HIV/HBV coinfection in Spain at the end of 2018 was 3.2%. The prevalence in 2002, 2009, 2015, 2016 and 2017 was 4.9%, 3.4%, 3%, 3.9% and 3%, respectively. Among the HIV/HBV-coinfected patients identified in 2018, 16.7% had cirrhosis according to transient elastography and 26.3% tested positive for antibodies against hepatitis D virus. All HIV/HBV-coinfected patients were receiving drugs with activity against HBV, and 97% of those tested for HBV DNA had an HBV DNA load < 80 IU/mL.

Conclusions

The prevalence of HIV/HBV coinfection in Spain remained stable at around 3% for a decade. Our data could facilitate the design of national programmes to control HBV infection and help identify areas of patient management that need improvement.

Clinical and economic benefit of 32 years of antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV in Spain: Has it been an efficient intervention?

INTRODUCTION

Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV/AIDS was introduced in 1987, improvement in disease progression and reduction in mortality at a population level was not observed until 1996, with the combination of three or more drugs. The objective was to estimate the clinical and economic benefit of ART in Spain in the 32-year period between 1987 and 2018.

METHODS

A cost-benefit analysis was performed, using a second-order Monte Carlo simulation, from the societal (base case) and the National Health System (NHS) perspectives. New cases of HIV, AIDS and related deaths were obtained from the SINIVIH and UNAIDS registries, with population projections without ART using triple exponential smoothing. Expenditure on ART was obtained from the National AIDS Plan reports and market studies.

RESULTS

The NHS invested 6185 million euros in 32 years. In that period, 323,651 AIDS-related deaths, 500,129 AIDS cases and 161,417 HIV cases were averted, with total savings of 41,997 million euros. The net benefit (net savings) is estimated at 35,812 million euros (societal) and 1032 million euros (NHS). For every euro invested in ART, a return on investment of € 6.79 and € 1.16 was obtained, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of ART over 32 years prevented a large number of deaths and cases of AIDS and HIV, providing significant economic savings for the NHS. ART is an efficient intervention for the NHS.

Late presentation for HIV impairs immunological but not virological response to antiretroviral treatment

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of late presentation (CD4+ cell count <350 cells/μl or an AIDS-defining event) on effectiveness and safety of initial antiretroviral therapy (ART) and to evaluate whether treatment response depends on first-line ART regimen in late presenters.

DESIGN

ART-naive adults from the Cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS) starting triple ART between 2010 and 2018.

METHODS

We used multivariable models to assess differences in viral suppression (viral load <50 copies/ml), immunological response (change in CD4+ cell count, CD4% (>29%) and CD4/CD8 normalization (>0.4 and >1) multiple T-cell marker recovery (MTMR): CD4+ cell count more than 500 cells/μl and CD4% >29% and CD4/CD8 >1), and treatment discontinuation due to adverse events (TDAE) at 48 weeks from ART initiation.

RESULTS

Out of 8002 participants, 48.7% were late presenters. Of them, 45.8% initiated ART with a NNRTI- (mostly TDF/FTC/EFV), 33.9% with a protease inhibitor (mostly TDF/FTC+boosted DRV) and 20.3% with an INI-based regimen (mostly ABC/3TC/DTG). At 48 weeks, late presenters had similar viral suppression, but worse immunological response, than non-late presenters with no difference on TDAE. Late presenters initiating with NNRTI-based regimens were more likely to achieve viral suppression than those starting with INI-based, due to the higher chance of achieving viral suppression observed with TDF/FTC/RPV compared to ABC/3TC/DTG. Initial treatment with NNRTI or protease inhibitor based showed similar immunological response than the INI-based regimens, which showed lower rates of TDAE than NNRTI- and protease inhibitor based regimens.

CONCLUSION

Despite safety and effectiveness of initial ART in terms of viral suppression, late presenters may not experience complete immunological response. In late presenters, effectiveness and safety depends on both the class and the specific first-line ART regimen.

Clinical and economic benefit of 32 years of antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV in Spain: Has it been an efficient intervention?

INTRODUCTION

Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV / AIDS was introduced in 1987, improvement in disease progression and reduction in mortality at a population level was not observed until 1996, with the combination of three or more drugs. The objective was to estimate the clinical and economic benefit of ART in Spain in the 32-year period between 1987 and 2018.

METHODS

A cost-benefit analysis was performed, using a second-order Monte Carlo simulation, from the societal (base case) and the National Health System (NHS) perspectives. New cases of HIV, AIDS and related deaths were obtained from the SINIVIH and UNAIDS registries, with population projections without ART using triple exponential smoothing. Expenditure on ART was obtained from the National AIDS Plan reports and market studies.

RESULTS

The NHS invested 6,185 million euros in 32 years. In that period, 323,651 AIDS-related deaths, 500,129 AIDS cases and 161,417 HIV cases were averted, with total savings of 41,997 million euros. The net benefit (net savings) is estimated at 35,812 million euros (societal) and 1,032 million euros (NHS). For every euro invested in ART, a return on investment of € 6.79 and € 1.16 was obtained, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The use of ART over 32 years prevented a large number of deaths and cases of AIDS and HIV, providing significant economic savings for the NHS. ART is an efficient intervention for the NHS.

Prevalence and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in the Spanish HIV Research Network Cohort

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to assess the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and factors associated with seropositivity and asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among people with HIV (PWH).

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study carried out within the cohort of the Spanish HIV Research Network. Participants were consecutive PWH with plasma collected from 1st April to 30th September 2020. We determined SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (Abs) in plasma. Illness severity (NIH criteria) was assessed by a review of medical records and, if needed, participant interviews. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of seropositivity among the following variables: sex, age, country of birth, education level, comorbidities (hypertension, chronic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, non-AIDS-related cancer, chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis), route of HIV acquisition, prior AIDS, CD4+ cell count, HIV viral load, nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (N [t]RTI) backbone, type of third antiretroviral drug, and month of sample collection.

RESULTS

Of 1076 PWH (88.0% males, median age 43 years, 97.7% on antiretroviral therapy, median CD4+ 688 cells/mm³, 91.4% undetectable HIV viral load), SARS-CoV-2 Abs were detected in 91 PWH, a seroprevalence of 8.5% (95%CI 6.9-10.3%). Forty-five infections (45.0%) were asymptomatic. Variables independently associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity were birth in Latin American countries versus Spain (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.30, 95%CI 1.41-3.76, p 0.001), and therapy with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate plus emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) versus tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)/FTC as the N(t)RTI backbone (aOR 0.49, 95%CI 0.26-0.94, p 0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

Many SARS-CoV-2 infections among PWH were asymptomatic, and birth in Latin American countries increased the risk of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. Our analysis, adjusted by comorbidities and other variables, suggests that TDF/FTC may prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection among PWH.

Identification and validation of clinical phenotypes with prognostic implications in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19: a multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

The clinical presentation of COVID-19 in patients admitted to hospital is heterogeneous. We aimed to determine whether clinical phenotypes of patients with COVID-19 can be derived from clinical data, to assess the reproducibility of these phenotypes and correlation with prognosis, and to derive and validate a simplified probabilistic model for phenotype assignment. Phenotype identification was not primarily intended as a predictive tool for mortality.

METHODS

In this study, we used data from two cohorts: the COVID-19@Spain cohort, a retrospective cohort including 4035 consecutive adult patients admitted to 127 hospitals in Spain with COVID-19 between Feb 2 and March 17, 2020, and the COVID-19@HULP cohort, including 2226 consecutive adult patients admitted to a teaching hospital in Madrid between Feb 25 and April 19, 2020. The COVID-19@Spain cohort was divided into a derivation cohort, comprising 2667 randomly selected patients, and an internal validation cohort, comprising the remaining 1368 patients. The COVID-19@HULP cohort was used as an external validation cohort. A probabilistic model for phenotype assignment was derived in the derivation cohort using multinomial logistic regression and validated in the internal validation cohort. The model was also applied to the external validation cohort. 30-day mortality and other prognostic variables were assessed in the derived phenotypes and in the phenotypes assigned by the probabilistic model.

FINDINGS

Three distinct phenotypes were derived in the derivation cohort (n=2667)-phenotype A (516 [19%] patients), phenotype B (1955 [73%]) and phenotype C (196 [7%])-and reproduced in the internal validation cohort (n=1368)-phenotype A (233 [17%] patients), phenotype B (1019 [74%]), and phenotype C (116 [8%]). Patients with phenotype A were younger, were less frequently male, had mild viral symptoms, and had normal inflammatory parameters. Patients with phenotype B included more patients with obesity, lymphocytopenia, and moderately elevated inflammatory parameters. Patients with phenotype C included older patients with more comorbidities and even higher inflammatory parameters than phenotype B. We developed a simplified probabilistic model (validated in the internal validation cohort) for phenotype assignment, including 16 variables. In the derivation cohort, 30-day mortality rates were 2·5% (95% CI 1·4-4·3) for patients with phenotype A, 30·5% (28·5-32·6) for patients with phenotype B, and 60·7% (53·7-67·2) for patients with phenotype C (log-rank test p<0·0001). The predicted phenotypes in the internal validation cohort and external validation cohort showed similar mortality rates to the assigned phenotypes (internal validation cohort: 5·3% [95% CI 3·4-8·1] for phenotype A, 31·3% [28·5-34·2] for phenotype B, and 59·5% [48·8-69·3] for phenotype C; external validation cohort: 3·7% [2·0-6·4] for phenotype A, 23·7% [21·8-25·7] for phenotype B, and 51·4% [41·9-60·7] for phenotype C).

INTERPRETATION

Patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 can be classified into three phenotypes that correlate with mortality. We developed and validated a simplified tool for the probabilistic assignment of patients into phenotypes. These results might help to better classify patients for clinical management, but the pathophysiological mechanisms of the phenotypes must be investigated.

FUNDING

Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and Fundación SEIMC/GeSIDA.

Late presentation for HIV remains a major health issue in Spain: Results from a multicenter cohort study, 2004-2018

OBJECTIVES

With the purpose of reducing the well-known negative impact of late presentation (LP) on people living with HIV (PLWH), guidelines on early HIV diagnosis were published in 2014 in Spain, but since then no data on LP prevalence have been published. To estimate prevalence and risk factors of LP and to evaluate their impact on the development of clinical outcomes in the Cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS) during 2004-2018.

METHODS

CoRIS is an open prospective multicenter cohort of PLWH, adults, naive to ART at entry. LP was defined as HIV diagnosis with CD4 count ≤350 cells/μL or an AIDS defining event (ADE). Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to estimate both prevalence ratios (PR) for the association of potential risk factors with LP and Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for its impact on the development of the composite endpoint (first ADE, first serious non-AIDS event [SNAE] or overall mortality).

RESULTS

14,876 individuals were included. Overall, LP prevalence in 2004-2018 was 44.6%. Risk factors for LP included older age, having been infected through injection drug use or heterosexual intercourse, low educational level and originating from non-European countries. LP was associated with an increased risk of the composite endpoint (IRR: 1.34; 95%CI 1.20, 1.50), ADE (1.39; 1.18, 1.64), SNAE (1.22; 1.01, 1.47) and mortality (1.71; 1.41, 2.08).

CONCLUSIONS

LP remains a health problem in Spain, mainly among certain populations, and is associated with greater morbidity and mortality. Public policies should be implemented to expand screening and early diagnosis of HIV infection, for a focus on those at greatest risk of LP.

Development and validation of a prediction model for 30-day mortality in hospitalised patients with COVID-19: the COVID-19 SEIMC score

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a prediction model of mortality in patients with COVID-19 attending hospital emergency rooms.

DESIGN

Multivariable prognostic prediction model.

SETTING

127 Spanish hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Derivation (DC) and external validation (VC) cohorts were obtained from multicentre and single-centre databases, including 4035 and 2126 patients with confirmed COVID-19, respectively.

INTERVENTIONS

Prognostic variables were identified using multivariable logistic regression.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

30-day mortality.

RESULTS

Patients' characteristics in the DC and VC were median age 70 and 61 years, male sex 61.0% and 47.9%, median time from onset of symptoms to admission 5 and 8 days, and 30-day mortality 26.6% and 15.5%, respectively. Age, low age-adjusted saturation of oxygen, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, estimated glomerular filtration rate by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation, dyspnoea and sex were the strongest predictors of mortality. Calibration and discrimination were satisfactory with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve with a 95% CI for prediction of 30-day mortality of 0.822 (0.806-0.837) in the DC and 0.845 (0.819-0.870) in the VC. A simplified score system ranging from 0 to 30 to predict 30-day mortality was also developed. The risk was considered to be low with 0-2 points (0%-2.1%), moderate with 3-5 (4.7%-6.3%), high with 6-8 (10.6%-19.5%) and very high with 9-30 (27.7%-100%).

CONCLUSIONS

A simple prediction score, based on readily available clinical and laboratory data, provides a useful tool to predict 30-day mortality probability with a high degree of accuracy among hospitalised patients with COVID-19.

Characteristics and predictors of death among 4035 consecutively hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Spain

OBJECTIVES

To analyse the characteristics and predictors of death in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Spain.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was performed of the first consecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 confirmed by real-time PCR assay in 127 Spanish centres until 17 March 2020. The follow-up censoring date was 17 April 2020. We collected demographic, clinical, laboratory, treatment and complications data. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with death.

RESULTS

Of the 4035 patients, male subjects accounted for 2433 (61.0%) of 3987, the median age was 70 years and 2539 (73.8%) of 3439 had one or more comorbidity. The most common symptoms were a history of fever, cough, malaise and dyspnoea. During hospitalization, 1255 (31.5%) of 3979 patients developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, 736 (18.5%) of 3988 were admitted to intensive care units and 619 (15.5%) of 3992 underwent mechanical ventilation. Virus- or host-targeted medications included lopinavir/ritonavir (2820/4005, 70.4%), hydroxychloroquine (2618/3995, 65.5%), interferon beta (1153/3950, 29.2%), corticosteroids (1109/3965, 28.0%) and tocilizumab (373/3951, 9.4%). Overall, 1131 (28%) of 4035 patients died. Mortality increased with age (85.6% occurring in older than 65 years). Seventeen factors were independently associated with an increased hazard of death, the strongest among them including advanced age, liver cirrhosis, low age-adjusted oxygen saturation, higher concentrations of C-reactive protein and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide comprehensive information about characteristics and complications of severe COVID-19, and may help clinicians identify patients at a higher risk of death.

HIV Coinfection Predicts Failure of Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir in Treatment-Naïve Noncirrhotic Patients With HCV Genotype 1

Background

The efficacy of licensed direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens is assumed to be the same for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-monoinfected patients (HCV-Mono) and HIV/HCV-coinfected patients (HCV-Co). However, the high sustained viral response (SVR) rates of DAA regimens and the small number of HIV-infected patients included in registration trials have made it difficult to identify predictors of treatment failure, including the presence of HIV.

Methods

We compared treatment outcomes for ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) against HCV G1 in treatment-naïve HCV-Mono and HCV-Co without cirrhosis in a prospective registry of individuals receiving DAAs for HCV.

Results

Up to September 2017, a total of 17 269 patients were registered, and 1358 patients (1055 HCV-Mono/303 HCV-Co) met the inclusion criteria. Significant differences between HCV-Mono and HCV-Co were observed for age, gender, and G1 subtype distribution. Among HCV-Co, 99.0% were receiving antiretroviral therapy. SVR rates for LDV/SOF at 8 weeks did not differ significantly between HCV-Mono and HCV-Co (96.9% vs 94.0%; P = .199). However, the SVR rate for LDV/SOF at 12 weeks was significantly higher for HCV-Mono than HCV-Co (97.2% vs 91.8%; P = .001). A multivariable logistic regression model including age, sex, liver stiffness, G1 subtype, HCV-RNA, HIV, and treatment duration showed the factors associated with treatment failure to be male sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-4.91; P = .008) and HIV infection (aOR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.13-4.38; P = .020).

Conclusions

The results of this large prospective study analyzing outcomes for LDV/SOF against HCV G1 in treatment-naïve noncirrhotic patients suggest that HIV infection is a predictor of treatment failure in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Impact of co-infection by hepatitis C virus on immunological and virological response to antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients

We assessed the effect of co-infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) on immunological and virological response at 48 weeks from initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART).We included patients from the Cohort of Spanish HIV Research Network (CoRIS) starting ART between January 2004 and November 2014, had at least 1 CD4 T-cell count and viral load measurements both in the previous 6 months and at 48 (±12) weeks from ART initiation, and HCV serology before ART initiation. We used linear regression for mean differences in CD4 T-cell count increase from ART initiation and logistic regression to estimate odds ratios for virological response.Of 12,239 patients by November 30, 2015, 5070 met inclusion criteria: 4382 (86.4%) HIV mono-infected and 688 (13.6%) HIV/HCV co-infected. Co-infected patients were more likely to have acquired HIV through injecting drugs use (57.4% vs. 1.1%), to be women, older, and Spanish, have a lower educational level, and having started ART with lower CD4 counts and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. CD4 T-cell count increase at 48 weeks was 229.7 cell/μL in HIV-monoinfected and 161.9 cell/μL in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. The percentages of patients achieving a virological response at 48 weeks were 87.0% and 78.3% in mono and coinfected patients, respectively. Multivariable analyses showed that at 48 weeks, coinfected patients increased 44.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 24.8-64.3) cells/μL less than monoinfected and had lower probability of virological response (odds ratio: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.44-0.88).HIV/HCV-coinfected patients have lower immunological and virological responses at 48 weeks from ART initiation than monoinfected patients.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Hepatits C Virus Coinfection in Spain: Elimination Is Feasible, but the Burden of Residual Cirrhosis Will Be Significant

Background

We assessed the prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV-Abs) and active HCV infection in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Spain in 2016 and compared the results with those of similar studies performed in 2002, 2009, and 2015.

Methods

The study was performed in 43 centers during October-November 2016. The sample was estimated for an accuracy of 2% and selected by proportional allocation and simple random sampling. During 2016, criteria for therapy based on direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) were at least significant liver fibrosis, severe extrahepatic manifestations of HCV, and high risk of HCV transmissibility.

Results

The reference population and the sample size were 38904 and 1588 patients, respectively. The prevalence of HCV-Abs in 2002, 2009, 2015, and 2016 was 60.8%, 50.2%, 37.7%, and 34.6%, respectively (P trend <.001, from 2002 to 2015). The prevalence of active HCV in 2002, 2009, 2015, and 2016 was 54.0%, 34.0%, 22.1%, and 11.7%, respectively (P trend <.001). The anti-HCV treatment uptake in 2002, 2009, 2015, and 2016 was 23.0%, 48.0%, 59.3%, and 74.7%, respectively (P trend <.001). In 2016, HCV-related cirrhosis was present in 7.6% of all HIV-infected individuals, 15.0% of patients with active HCV, and 31.5% of patients who cleared HCV after anti-HCV therapy.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that with universal access to DAA-based therapy and continued efforts in prevention and screening, it will be possible to eliminate active HCV among HIV-infected individuals in Spain in the short term. However, the burden of HCV-related cirrhosis will continue to be significant among HIV-infected individuals.

Higher levels of IL-6, CD4 turnover and Treg frequency are already present before cART in HIV-infected subjects with later low CD4 recovery

Immunological characterization of HIV-infected subjects with low CD4-recovery (LR-subjects) has been extensively performed after a variable period of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). We now explore immunological alterations present before the cART onset. In a case-control study, we selected pre-cART samples of HIV-subjects with and without low CD4-recovery after cART (n = 21 per group). CD4 T-cell activation, senescence and exhaustion related markers were not found specifically altered before cART initiation. On the other hand, we found that LR-subjects before cART already showed increased levels of IL6 (p = 0.009) and increased frequencies of Ki67+CD4⁺ T-cells (p = 0.026), CD45RA-CD27+CD4⁺ T-cells (p = 0.008) and Treg (p = 0.001), as well as increased expression of CD95 and CD127 on CD4 T-cells (p = 0.016; p = 0.032, respectively). These parameters characterize the immunological damage in LR-subjects before the cART onset and could be associated to the mechanisms hindering the subsequent CD4 recovery.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection in Spain: Prevalence and Patient Characteristics

Background.  The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (Abs) and active HCV infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected (HIV+) patients in Spain in 2015. This was a cross-sectional study. Methods.  The study was performed in 41 centers in 2015. Sample size was estimated for an accuracy of 2%, the number of patients from each hospital was determined by proportional allocation, and patients were selected using simple random sampling. Results.  The reference population was 35 791 patients, and the sample size was 1867 patients. Hepatitis C virus serostatus was known in 1843 patients (98.7%). Hepatitis C virus-Abs were detected in 695 patients (37.7%), in whom the main route of HIV acquisition was injection drug use (75.4%). Of these 695 patients, 402 had HCV RNA, 170 had had a sustained viral response (SVR) after anti-HCV therapy, and 102 cleared HCV spontaneously. Hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid results were unknown in 21 cases. Genotype distribution (known in 367 patients) was 1a in 143 patients (39.0%), 4 in 90 (24.5%) patients, 1b in 69 (18.8%) patients, 3 in 57 (15.5%) patients, 2 in 5 (1.4%) patients, and mixed in 3 (0.8%) patients. Liver cirrhosis was present in 93 patients (23.1%) with active HCV infection and in 39 (22.9%) patients with SVR after anti-HCV therapy. Conclusions.  The prevalence of HCV-Abs and active HCV infection in HIV+ patients in Spain is 37.7% and 22.1%, respectively; these figures are significantly lower than those recorded in 2002 and 2009. The predominant genotypes in patients with active HCV infection were 1a and 4. A high percentage of patients had cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is also common in patients with SVR after anti-HCV therapy.

Lenticonus diagnosis in Alport's syndrome: Anterior capsule apical angle calculation using Scheimpflug imagery

OBJECTIVE

We describe a simplified method to detect anterior lenticonus. Three eyes of 2 patients with anterior lenticonus, plus 16 eyes from 16 healthy controls underwent Scheimpflug imaging of their anterior segment with Pentacam. The anterior capsule apex angle was manually identified and automatically measured by AutoCAD.

RESULTS

The mean angle was 173.06° (SD: 1.91) in healthy subjects, and 158.33° (SD: 3.05) in anterior lenticonus eyes. The angle obtained from patients was more than 3 SD steeper than those from healthy subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

The apical angle calculation method seems to discriminate well between normal eyes and eyes suspected of having anterior lenticonus.

Ensemble learning of inverse probability weights for marginal structural modeling in large observational datasets

Inverse probability weights used to fit marginal structural models are typically estimated using logistic regression. However, a data-adaptive procedure may be able to better exploit information available in measured covariates. By combining predictions from multiple algorithms, ensemble learning offers an alternative to logistic regression modeling to further reduce bias in estimated marginal structural model parameters. We describe the application of two ensemble learning approaches to estimating stabilized weights: super learning (SL), an ensemble machine learning approach that relies on V-fold cross validation, and an ensemble learner (EL) that creates a single partition of the data into training and validation sets. Longitudinal data from two multicenter cohort studies in Spain (CoRIS and CoRIS-MD) were analyzed to estimate the mortality hazard ratio for initiation versus no initiation of combined antiretroviral therapy among HIV positive subjects. Both ensemble approaches produced hazard ratio estimates further away from the null, and with tighter confidence intervals, than logistic regression modeling. Computation time for EL was less than half that of SL. We conclude that ensemble learning using a library of diverse candidate algorithms offers an alternative to parametric modeling of inverse probability weights when fitting marginal structural models. With large datasets, EL provides a rich search over the solution space in less time than SL with comparable results.

Definition of advanced age in HIV infection: looking for an age cut-off

The age of 50 has been considered as a cut-off to discriminate older subjects within HIV-infected people according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the International AIDS Society (IAS) mentions 60 years of age and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) makes no consideration. We aimed to establish an age cut-off that could differentiate response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and, therefore, help to define advanced age in HIV-infected patients. CoRIS is an open, prospective, multicenter cohort of HIV adults naive to HAART at entry (January 2004 to October 2009). Survival, immunological response (IR) (CD4 increase of more than 100 cell/ml), and virological response (VR) (HIV RNA less than 50 copies/ml) were compared among 5-year age intervals at start of HAART using Cox proportional hazards models, stratified by hospital and adjusted for potential confounders. Among 5514 patients, 2726 began HAART. During follow-up, 2164 (79.4%) patients experienced an IR, 1686 (61.8%) a VR, and 54 (1.9%) died. Compared with patients aged <25 years at start of HAART, those aged 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-59, and 70 or older were 32% (aHR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.52-0.87), 29% (aHR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.53-0.96), 34% (aHR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.46-0.95), 39% (aHR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.37-1.00), and 43% (aHR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.31-1.04) less likely to experience an IR. The VR was similar across all age groups. Finally, patients aged 50-59 showed a 3-fold increase (aHR: 3.58; 95% CI: 1.07-11.99) in their risk of death compared to those aged <30 years. In HIV infection, patients aged ≥50 years have a poorer immunological response to HAART and a poorer survival. This age could be used to define medically advanced age in HIV-infected people.

Impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on AIDS and death in a cohort of vertically HIV type 1-infected children: 1980-2006

We evaluated the population effectiveness of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the risk of AIDS and death in a multicenter cohort of 346 HIV-1 vertically infected children born between 1980 and 2006 in the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (CAM), Spain. Risks of AIDS and death in patients with the same duration of HIV infection were compared in different calendar periods [CP1: 1980-1989, CP2: 1990-1993 (reference), CP3: 1994-1996, CP4: 1997-1998, CP5: 1999-2006] through cumulative incidence curves and Cox proportional hazards models, allowing for late entry, that included the calendar period as the time-dependent covariate and adjusting for gender and mother's transmission category. The median follow-up was 11.8 years [interquartile range (IQR), 6.3-15.9]. Median CD4+ T cell percentage increased up to 26.5 in CP5 (IQR, 19.5-36.7) while the viral load decreased (median log(10) copies/ml in CP5, 3.66; IQR, 3.07-4.22). Multivariate analysis showed significant reduction in the risk of death since 1997 onward [CP4: adjusted hazard ratios (AHR), 0.29; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.12-0.69; CP5: AHR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.03-0.15]. Reduction in progression to AIDS reached borderline significance in CP4 (AHR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.23-1.05) and was more marked in the last period (CP5: AHR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.16-0.59). The reductions in the incidence of AIDS and death observed since 1996 were largely attributable to HAART.

[Analytical methods in cohort studies of patients with HIV infection]

This paper provides an overview of the main statistical methods used in the analysis of data from cohort studies and presents a detailed description of the way these methods are applied in HIV/AIDS research. First, we describe methods for analyzing events in person-time data. Second, we present survival methods for the analysis of time-to-event data. In this context, we illustrate the application of these methods to describe the AIDS incubation period and survival from HIV seroconversion, to determine the factors and biological markers associated with disease progression, and to evaluate effectiveness of therapy. The review ends by illustrating the statistical methods used for the analysis of markers measured repeatedly over time.

[Cohort studies and their contribution to the study of HIV infection: main characteristics and limitations]

In this paper, we provide a definition of cohort studies and reviews the main types of cohort studies used in the context of HIV infection. We discuss how the main sources of selection biases in cohort studies are those derived from the lack of observation of the event that determines the origin and/or of the event of interest due to losses to follow-up or development of a competing event, and how this bias must be appropriately taken into account following specific epidemiological methods. Although cohort studies play an essential role in the study of HIV infection, they are logistically complex and require considerable resources. Therefore, strategic planning on the quality and quantity of the information collected must always be accompanied by a resource allocation plan.

Discrimination and mental health in Ecuadorian immigrants in Spain

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of ethnic discrimination on the mental health of Ecuadorian immigrants in Spain and to assess the roles of material and social resources.

METHODS

Data were taken from the "Neighbourhood characteristics, immigration and mental health" survey conducted in 2006 in Spain. Psychological distress measured as "Possible Psychiatric Case" (PPC) was measured by the GHQ-28. A logistic regression was fitted to assess the association between PPC and discrimination. Interactions of discrimination with social and material resources were tested using product terms.

RESULTS

Some 28% of the participants met our definition of PPC. About 20% of those who reported no discrimination were PPCs, rising to 30% of those who sometimes felt discriminated against and 41% of those who continually perceived discrimination. The OR for continuous discrimination was 12 (95% CI 3.5 to 40.3) among those with high financial strain, and 10 (2.4 to 41.7) when there was lack of economic support. Emotional support had an independent effect on PPC (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.0 to 3.6, for those who reported having no friends). Social integration through a community group or association was positively related to the probability of being a PPC (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.9).

CONCLUSION

Ethnic discrimination is associated with psychological distress in these Ecuadorian immigrants in Spain. Discrimination effects may be exacerbated among those facing economic stress and those without economic support. These particularly vulnerable immigrants should be the subject of social and health interventions.

The role of C-reactive protein as a marker for cardiovascular risk associated with antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients

C-reactive protein (CRP) has been associated with prognosis of HIV-infection, but its relationship with cardiovascular disease remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate whether CRP may be a marker of cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected patients, and to determine the influence of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on CRP levels. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 245 consecutive HIV-infected patients during a 2-month period. An extensive workup for cardiovascular risk was performed, including determination of CRP levels measured by an ultrasensitive immunoturbidimetric assay (detection limit, 0.003 mg/dl). Ninety-nine (40.4%) patients had serum CRP concentrations above 0.3 mg/dl, considered to represent individuals at high risk for developing cardiovascular complications. In univariate analysis, CRP levels correlated positively with total cholesterol (p=0.01), LDL cholesterol (p=0.001), triglycerides (p=0.04) and Framingham risk score (p=0.006), and negatively with HDL cholesterol (p=0.004). Concentrations of CRP were higher in males (p=0.05) and smokers (p=0.002). No correlation was found between CRP levels and HIV-viral load or CD4 cell counts. In multivariate analysis, independent factors associated with the highest quartile of serum CRP concentrations (0.49 mg/dl) were LDL-cholesterol (p<0.001), HDL-cholesterol (p=0.001), cigarette smoking (p=0.019) and current ART (p=0.021). Our results show that C-reactive protein is associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and may then be a marker for cardiovascular risk linked to HIV infection and ART.

Higher prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in migrant women from Latin America in Spain

OBJECTIVES

To estimate prevalence and determinants of high risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) by country of origin in women attending a family planning centre (FPC) in Alicante, Spain.

METHODS

Cross sectional study of all women attending a FPC from May 2003 to January 2004. An ad hoc questionnaire was designed and data were collected prospectively. HR HPV infection was determined through the Digene HPV test, Hybrid Capture II, and positive samples for PCR were directly sequenced. Data were analysed through multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

HR HPV prevalence in 1011 women was 10% (95% CI: 8.2 to 12). Compared to Spaniards (prevalence 8.2%) HR HPV prevalence in Colombians was 27.5% (OR: 4.24 95% CI: 2.03 to 8.86), 23.1% in Ecuadoreans (OR: 3.35 95% CI: 1.30 to 8.63), and 22.73% in women from other Latin American countries (OR: 3.29 95% CI: 1.17 to 9.19). Women with more than three lifetime sexual partners had an increased risk of HR HPV infection (OR 3.21 95% CI: 2.02 to 5.10). The higher risk of HR HPV infection was maintained in Latin American women in multivariate analyses that adjusted for age, number of lifetime sexual partners, and reason for consultation. The commonest HPV types in women with normal cervical smears were HPV-18 (20%), HPV-16 (14%) and HPV-33 (11%).

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of HR HPV is more than three times higher in Latin Americans than in Spaniards. Latin American women's HPV prevalence resembles more that of their countries of origin. It is essential that health service providers identify these women as a priority group in current cervical screening programmes.

La epidemiología en la salud pública del futuro

The evolution of epidemiology from a risk factor centred approach to a population epidemiology, focused in etiologic theories and more connected with the social and environmental context could support but not guarantee the implementation of public policies oriented to improve population health. In this article, we comment on several factors that, from the research, professional and health services viewpoints, could determine a better linkage between epidemiology and public health policies. Creativity and innovation, hybridization, a compromise with the fundamental values of public health and a prominent role in health services are some of the main factors.

Evaluation of the research methodology in genetic, molecular and proteomic tests

INTRODUCTION

The advances in genomic analysis technologies have conducted to the development of new diagnostic tests in the clinical practice. As well as it happened in other diagnostic fields, the knowledge of the main flaws affecting genetic investigation will facilitate the application of the results.

METHODS

We included 44 original articles that evaluate diagnostic exactitude of genetic and molecular tests (including proteomic), published from 2002 to June 2005 in five international publications: JAMA, Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, Cancer Research and Clinical Cancer Research. We examined adherence to 24 methodological criteria included in the guide STARD (Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy.

RESULTS

The mean number of methodological criteria satisfied was 9.8 (95% CI 8.8-10.6); the greater deficiencies were in aspects related to the description of patient's selection 9 (20%), the treatment of indeterminate results 5 (11%) and the determination of test reproducibility 6 (13%). It was observed a high fulfillment in the description of the gold standard 39 (87%) and in the methodology of the test 28 (62%).

DISCUSSION

The methodologic quality of the evaluated articles is lower than the quality observed in other research fields. The methodologic aspects that most need improvement are those linked to the clinical information of the populations studied and the reproducibility of the tests. The research and development of new genetic-molecular technologies requires a better fulfillment of the epidemiological and clinical criteria already followed by other diagnostic fields.

Delay in the initiation of HAART, poorer virological response, and higher mortality among HIV-infected injecting drug users in Spain

Differences in the uptake and time to initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the virological response to HAART, and survival from AIDS by transmission category were analyzed. A multicenter hospital-based cohort of HIV-infected patients attending 10 hospitals in Spain from January 1997 to December 2003 was used. Cross-checks with the National AIDS Registry were performed. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the impact of transmission category on time to HAART initiation, viral suppression (defined by first HIV-1 RNA viral load measurement <500 copies/ml after HAART), and survival from AIDS. Of 4643 patients, 73% were men and 56% were injecting drug users (IDUs). A statistically significant interaction was found between transmission category and previous non-HAART antiretroviral treatment (ART) (p < 0.05). Among ART naive patients, IDUs had a 33% lower risk of initiating HAART compared to men who have sex with men (MSM) [HR 0.67 (95% CI 0.57-0.79)]. No differences by transmission categories were seen among patients with prior non-HAART ART. IDUs had poorer viral load (VL) suppression than MSM [HR 0.86 (95% CI 0.74-0.99)] adjusting by baseline VL, AIDS diagnosis, and prior ART. Mortality from AIDS was two and a half times higher in IDUs than MSM [HR 2.51 (95% CI 1.03-6.1)]. Among patients who access the hospital network, IDUs have a lower uptake of HAART, have worse virological suppression, and have higher mortality after AIDS diagnosis. There is a need to extend the programs in order to enhance access and adherence of IDUs to HAART and consider the treatment of drug addiction as an integral part of the treatment for HIV infection.

Impact of hepatitis C infection on long-term mortality of injecting drug users from 1990 to 2002: differences before and after HAART

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on long-term mortality in injecting drug users (IDU).

DESIGN

Community-based prospective cohort study.

METHODS

Mortality data from follow-up in clinical sites and the Mortality Registry by December 2002 were collected for 3247 IDU who attended three centres for voluntary counselling and testing for HIV/AIDS, HCV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1990-1996. Mortality rates by Poisson regression were adjusting for age, sex, duration of drug use, education, HBV and calendar period (1990-1997 and 1998-2002).

RESULTS

Overall, 11.2% were HIV/HCV negative, 43.7% positive only for HCV and 45.1% positive for both. During 26 772 person-years of follow-up, 585 deaths were detected (2.19/100 person-years). Before 1997, HIV/HCV-positive subjects had a five-fold increase in risk of death [relative risk (RR), 5.4; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.5-11.4] compared with those negative for both; after 1997, a three-fold increase was observed (RR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.7-4.2). Being HCV positive/HIV negative was not associated with an increase in the risk of death either before (RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.6-2.9) or after (RR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.8-1.9) 1997 compared with HCV/HIV negative. While increases in mortality were seen in those HCV/HIV negative (RR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.7-3.7) and those only positive for HCV (RR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.1), a 20% reduction among coinfected IDUs was observed after 1997 (interaction P = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

HCV/HIV coinfection has had a large impact on mortality in IDU. After 1997, mortality increased in HIV negative/HCV positive subjects and decreased in HIV positive/HCV positive.