Question: Does HIV increase Covid-19 susceptibility?

Answer passage (source: WHO):
page_title: Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19
section_headers: Are people living with HIV at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19?
section_content: People living with HIV with advanced disease, those with low CD4 and high
viral load and those who are not taking antiretroviral treatment have an
increased risk of infections and related complications in general. It is
unknown if the immunosuppression of HIV will put a person at greater risk for
COVID-19, thus, until more is known, additional precautions for all people
with advanced HIV or poorly controlled HIV, should be employed[1],[2]. __
At present there is no evidence that the risk of infection or complications of
COVID-19 is different among people living with HIV who are clinically and
immunologically stable on antiretroviral treatment when compared with the
general population. Some people living with HIV may have known risk factors
for COVID-19 complications, such as diabetes, hypertension and other
noncommunicable diseases and as such may have increased risk of COVID-19
unrelated to HIV. We know that during the SARS and MERS outbreaks there were
only a few case reports of mild disease among people living with HIV.
To date, there is a case report of a person living with HIV who had COVID-19
and recovered[3] and a small study on risk factors and antiretrovirals used
among people living with HIV with COVID-19 from China. This study reported
similar rates of COVID-19 disease as compared to the entire population and
increased risk with older age, but not with low CD4, high viral load level or
antiretroviral regimen[4]. Current clinical data suggest the main mortality
risk factors are linked to older age and other comorbidities including
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and
hypertension. Some very healthy people have also developed severe disease from
the coronavirus infection[5].
PLHIV are advised to take the same precautions as the general
population[6],[7]:


wash hands often


cough etiquette 


physical distancing


seek medical care if symptomatic


self-isolation if in contact with someone with COVID-19 and 


other actions per the government response 


People living with HIV who are taking antiretroviral drugs should ensure that
they have at least 30 days and up to 6-month supply of medicines and ensure
that their vaccinations are up to date (influenza and pneumococcal vaccines).
Adequate supplies of medicines to treat co-infections and comorbidities and
addiction should also be ensured.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Clearly states that immunosuppression from HIV leads to a greater risk of infection with coronavirus.
This is a good answer.  There is a lot of information about HIV and the risk associated with the coronavirus.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: WHO):
page_title: Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19
section_headers: Can pregnant or postpartum women living with HIV transmit the COVID-19 virus to their unborn child or infant?
section_content: There are few data on the clinical presentation of COVID-19 in specific
populations, such as children and pregnant women[13] but findings from a small
published study suggest that there is currently no evidence for intrauterine
infection caused by vertical transmission in women who develop COVID-19
pneumonia in late pregnancy[14]. **** Although no vertical transmission has
been documented, transmission after birth via contact with infectious
respiratory secretions is a concern. Infants born to mothers with suspected,
probable, or confirmed COVID-19 should be fed according to standard infant
feeding guidelines[15], while applying necessary precautions for infection
prevention and control (IPC). As with all confirmed or suspected COVID-19
cases, symptomatic mothers who are breastfeeding or practicing skin-to-skin
contact or kangaroo mother care should practice respiratory hygiene, including
during feeding (for example, use of a medical mask when near a child if the
mother has respiratory symptoms), perform hand hygiene before and after
contact with the child, and routinely clean and disinfect surfaces with which
the symptomatic mother has been in contact[16].

Q&A on COVID-19, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding 


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Focuses on risk of infection in mothers and children. Doesn't mention patients with HIV.
The answer was about pregnancy and covid.  The question was about HIV and covid.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad

Answer passage (source: WHO):
page_title: Q&A: HIV, antiretrovirals and COVID-19
section_headers: Can antiretrovirals be used to prevent COVID-19 infection?
section_content: Two studies have reported the use of LPV/r as post-exposure prophylaxis for
SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. One of these studies suggested that the occurrence of
MERS-CoV infection was lower among health workers receiving LPV/r compared to
those who did not receive any drugs; the other study found no cases of SARS-
CoV infection among 19 people living with HIV hospitalized in the same ward of
SARS patients, of whom 11 were on antiretroviral therapy. Again, the certainty
of the evidence is very low due to small sample size, variability in drugs
provided, and uncertainty regarding intensity of exposure.  

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
MERS and SARS are mentioned in this answer, but the question is about AIDS and HIV.
Talks about use of antiretroviral drugs to avoid coronavirus infection. Doesn't mention whether people with HIV are at higher risk of infection.

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad