May 17, 2021

Significant Impact of COVID-19 on HIV Care in Hospitals Affecting the First Pillar of the HIV Care Continuum

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

Keywords (Tags): public health

• A study evaluating COVID-19 restrictions in the Netherlands between January and June 2020 found disruptions in clinical HIV care. During lockdown (March 16th through May 31st), there was a significant reduction in the weekly number of HIV tests. The proportion of individuals newly diagnosed with HIV was also lower during lockdown, with a higher proportion presenting with advanced disease at entry to clinical care. The number of patients with HIV indicator conditions each month, such as hepatitis B/C, cervical dysplasia/cancer, and lymphoma, who entered care also decreased disproportionately between January and April, which the authors suggest may be due to closure of public health centers, patient delay due to fear of contracting SARs-CoV-2, and increased barriers to consulting with general practitioners.

Hensley et al. (May 16, 2021). Significant Impact of COVID-19 on HIV Care in Hospitals Affecting the First Pillar of the HIV Care Continuum. Clinical Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciab445