BHIVA COVID-19 Registry

Project Summary

The potential impact of HIV on the outcome of COVID-19 infection is unknown, with published reports documenting inconsistent findings.

If there is an increased risk, it is unclear whether this is due to infection with HIV itself (or the immunosuppression that results), the treatment for HIV (some ART drugs have been implicated) and/or confounding factors, including demographic factors (the HIV epidemic in the UK is relatively young but disproportionately affects those of BAME background), obesity, comorbidities or socio-economic status.

In October 2020, the British HIV Association (BHIVA) established the BHIVA COVID-19 Registry which collects detailed information about people with HIV attending HIV services in the UK who are known to have acquired COVID-19.

The primary aim of the Registry is to provide a database that can be used to describe the outcomes of COVID-19 in this population and the impact of markers of HIV infection on these outcomes.

To date, information has been submitted on just under 1000 people with HIV and COVID-19; findings from the study will be presented at the national BHIVA meeting in Spring 2021 and will support national guidelines and recommendations for the management of people with HIV during the pandemic, particularly regarding advice for shielding and recommendations for service delivery.

This project is being run by the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Blood-Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections at UCL.

Key Project Information

Dates: October 2020 - 2024

Status: Complete

IGH lead: Prof Caroline Sabin

Project lead: BHIVA

Partners: NIHR HPRU in Blood-Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections at UCL, BHIVA, Mortimer Market Centre.

Location: UK

Contact: Prof Caroline Sabin