ORCHESTRA Delphi consensus: clinical management of SARS-CoV-2 infection in people with HIV

Abstract

Objectives: The interaction between HIV and COVID-19 resulted in a syndemic that showed an excess burden of disease for people with HIV (PWH). Four years of the COVID-19 pandemic have raised many unsolved questions about the optimal care of COVID-19 in PWH.

Methods: We performed a study using a three-round Delphi methodology involving a panel of physicians with expertise in HIV and COVID-19 infections. The main aim of the study was to provide recommendations on critical clinical issues of COVID-19 among PWH and to inform physicians and policy-makers for improving care and prevention of COVID-19 in PWH. A total of 27 questions were conceived, focusing on four main areas of interest in the management of COVID-19 in PWH; a panel of 34 experts in HIV and COVID-19 care expressed their level of agreement on each item. Questions that received agreement/disagreement ≥79.4% of panellists were identified and statements were generated accordingly.

Results: Consensus was reached on 19/27 items, resulting in 18 final statements. These statements addressed: (a) risk of COVID-19 progression to severe disease among PWH; (b) COVID-19 diagnostics and laboratory procedures; (c) early treatments with antivirals and/or monoclonal antibodies; (d) use of corticosteroids; (e) COVID-19 preventive strategies.

Discussion: This consensus's study guides infectious diseases physicians in making decisions regarding the care of PWH for COVID-19, where results from the scientific literature are limited or conflicting.

Keywords: COVID-19; Consensus; Delphi; HIV; SARS-CoV-2.