Risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation by HIV-status and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status during pre- and post-Omicron era in a national register-based cohort study in Sweden
Creators: name: Möller, Isabela Killander
name: Hedberg, Pontus
name: Wagner, Philippe
name: Lindahl, Hannes
name: Nyström, Sofia
name: Blixt, Lisa
name: Sylvan, Sandra Eketorp
name: Nilsdotter-Augustinsson, Åsa
name: Österborg, Anders
name: Fredrikson, Mats
name: Hansson, Lotta
name: Kahn, Fredrik
name: Sparén, Pär
name: Gisslén, Magnus
name: Nauclér, Pontus
name: Bergman, Peter
name: Aleman, Soo
name: Carlander, Christina
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Statistics
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: Science Policy
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences
subject: Virology
subject: Computational Biology

description: Data on the outcomes of COVID-19 in people living with HIV (PLHIV), specifically in relation to vaccination status, are lacking during the Omicron era. This nationwide registry-based study included all resident in Sweden ≥18 years with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test during January 2021–February 2023. We estimated adjusted odds ratios (adjOR) for COVID-19 hospitalisation and severe COVID-19 (ICU admission and 90-day mortality), categorised by SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (0–1, 2, and ≥3 doses), and HIV-status. Analyses were then categorised by time periods of pre-Omicron, Omicron during public testing, and Omicron after public testing. 1348 PLHIV and 1 669 389 people without HIV (PWoH) were included. PLHIV were older, more migrant (65 <i>vs.</i> 22%) and male (59 <i>vs.</i> 46%). Of PLHIV, 96% were on antiretroviral treatment and 94% virally suppressed. AdjORs of COVID-19 hospitalisation were similar irrespective of HIV-status, controlled for demographics, calendar month of infection, comorbidities, and income. PLHIV were more likely to be hospitalised than PWoH during Omicron and public testing (adjOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1–4.2), but not after public testing. The odds of severe COVID-19 were three times higher in PLHIV compared to PWoH vaccinated with 2 doses (adjOR 3.2, 95% CI 1.3–6.9), but not when vaccinated with ≥3 doses (adjOR 0.7, 95% CI 0.2–1.6). Migrant and low nadir CD4<sup>+</sup> T-cells were associated with higher odds of hospitalisation in unvaccinated PLHIV. This nationwide study, including mostly well-treated PLHIV, highlights the importance of vaccination with booster dose/s for effective protection against severe COVID-19 in PLHIV.KEY POINTPeople living with HIV compared to people without HIV did not have higher odds of COVID-19 hospitalisation irrespective of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (0–1 dose, 2 doses, ≥3 doses) when adjusting for known risk factors including comorbidities and socioeconomic status. People living with HIV compared to people without HIV did not have higher odds of COVID-19 hospitalisation irrespective of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (0–1 dose, 2 doses, ≥3 doses) when adjusting for known risk factors including comorbidities and socioeconomic status.