Abstract

Covid-19 seroprevalence in HIV-infected and non-infected residents of a Long Term Care Facility in New Jersey.

Reza Peymani, MD¹, Manisha Gurumurthy, MD MPH², Amy Davidow, PhD³, James Gonzalez, MPH⁴, Pauline Thomas, MD², Edward Lifshitz, MD⁵, Stephen Friedman, MD² (1)Rutgers University School of Public Health, (2)Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Department of Medicine, (3)Rutgers School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, (4)Broadway House for Continuing Care, (5)New Jersey Department of Health, Communicable Disease Services

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

Introduction
SARS CoV 2, the virus responsible for the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) has caused a wide spectrum of various symptoms and outcomes in different people based on their age, genetic, and health status. Very little is known about the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection in persons with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection as well as differences in antibody development against SARS CoV 2 in HIV-infected individuals. The primary objective of our study was to compare the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in HIV-infected and non-infected residents of a Long Term Care Facility (LTCF) in Newark, NJ.
Methods
As a sub-analysis of a larger New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence survey in residents and staff of 10 LTCFs in New Jersey, this is a cross-sectional descriptive study on antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in residents of a LTCF, predominantly serving HIV-infected persons. Data on demographics, HIV infection, history of Covid-19 PCR tests, history of Covid-19-consistent symptoms, Lymphocyte CD4+ levels (in HIV-infected residents) and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 anti N (Nucleocapsid) antibody were collected. Bivariate Fisher Exact test was used to determine the association between HIV infection and immune deficiency in HIV-infected persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Results
Among the 53 subjects 35 (66.1%) were male and 18 (33.9%) were female. The mean age was 57, ranged 28-100. 28 (53%) were Black, 17 (32%) Hispanic and 8 (15%) white. 53% were HIV-infected. HIV-infected (N=28) compared to non-infected (N=25) subjects had comparable male sex ratios (68% vs. 64%), younger (median age 54.5 vs. 58) and less likely to have history of Covid-19 PCR+ test (7% vs. 24%). 5 of 28 (18%) HIV-infected vs. 7 of 25 (28%) non HIV-infected subjects had positive N antibody for SARS-CoV-2. (OR: 0.56 P value: 0.51) and within HIV-infected group 10 had CD4+ <200 (36%), 1 of 5 with positive serology and 9 of 23 with negative serology. (OR: 0.39, P value: 0.62) Black residents in non HIV-infected group had significantly higher seroprevalence (5 of 10, 50%) compared to HIV-infected group (2 of 18, 11%) with OR: 8.0 and P value: 0.06.
Conclusions
Our study showed no statistically significant differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection in HIV-infected subjects compared to non HIV-infected subjects as well as in HIV-infected subjects with significant immunosuppressed status (CD4+ cells<200) compared to ones with acceptable immune status (CD4+ cells ≥200). In our small patient population HIV infection was not associated with differences in SARS-CoV-2 antibody production.