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Introduction: To assess the effectiveness of novel HIV curative strategies, "cure" trials require periods of closely monitored antiretroviral therapy (ART) analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs). We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis to identify the impact of ATI with or without novel therapeutics in cure‐related studies on the time to viral re‐suppression following ART restart. Methods: Medline, Embase and Web of Science databases were searched for human studies involving ATIs from 1 January 2015 till 22 April 2024. The primary outcome was time to first viral re‐suppression (plasma HIV viral load [VL] <50 copies/ml) stratified by receipt of interventional drug with ATI (IA) or ATI‐only groups. Random‐effects proportional meta‐analysis and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis were performed using R. Results: Of 1073 studies screened, 13 were included that met the inclusion criteria with VL data available after restarting ART (n = 213 participants). There was no difference between time to viral suppression in IA or ATI‐only cohorts (p = 0.22). For 87% of participants, viral suppression within 12 weeks of ART restart was achieved, and all eventually had at least one VL <50 copies/ml during follow‐up. After adjusting for covariables, while participants in the IA cohort were associated with less rapid suppression (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.61, 95% CI 0.40–0.94, p = 0.026), other factors include greater log VL at ART restart (aHR 0.56, 95% CI 0.46–0.68, p<0.001), duration since HIV diagnosis (aHR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89–0.96) and longer intervals between HIV VL monitoring (aHR 0.66, 95% CI 0.59–0.74, p<0.001). However, the use of integrase inhibitors was associated with more rapid viral suppression (aHR 1.74, 95% CI 1.16–2.59). Discussion: When designing studies involving ATIs, information on time to viral re‐suppression after restarting ART is important to share with participants, and should be regularly monitored and reported, to assess the impact and safety of specific trial interventions in ATI studies. Conclusions: The majority of participants achieved viral suppression after restarting ART in ATI studies. ART regimens containing integrase inhibitors and frequent VL monitoring should be offered for people restarting ART after ATI studies to ensure rapid re‐suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The contribution of HIV to COVID‐19 outcomes in hospitalized inpatients remains unclear. We conducted a multi‐centre, retrospective matched cohort study of SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR‐positive hospital inpatients analysed by HIV status. Methods: HIV‐negative patients were matched to people living with HIV (PLWH) admitted from 1 February 2020 to 31 May 2020 up to a 3:1 ratio by the following: hospital site, SARS‐CoV‐2 test date ± 7 days, age ± 5 years, gender, and index of multiple deprivation decile ± 1. The primary objective was clinical improvement (two‐point improvement or better on a seven‐point ordinal scale) or hospital discharge by day 28, whichever was earlier. Results: A total of 68 PLWH and 181 HIV‐negative comparators were included. In unadjusted analyses, PLWH had a reduced hazard of achieving clinical improvement or discharge [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.39–0.85, p = 0.005], but this association was ameliorated (aHR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.43–1.17, p = 0.18) after additional adjustment for ethnicity, frailty, baseline hypoxaemia, duration of symptoms prior to baseline, body mass index (BMI) categories and comorbidities. Baseline frailty (aHR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65–0.95, p = 0.011), malignancy (aHR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.17, 0.82, p = 0.014) remained associated with poorer outcomes. The PLWH were more likely to be of black, Asian and minority ethnic background (75.0% vs 48.6%, p = 0.0002), higher median clinical frailty score [3 × interquartile range (IQR): 2–5 vs, 2 × IQR: 1–4, p = 0.0069), and to have a non‐significantly higher proportion of active malignancy (14.4% vs 9.9%, p = 0.29). Conclusions: Adjusting for confounding comorbidities and demographics in a matched cohort ameliorated differences in outcomes of PLWH hospitalized with COVID‐19, highlighting the importance of an appropriate comparison group when assessing outcomes of PLWH hospitalized with COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis A is a self-limiting infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), transmitted predominantly by the faecal-oral route including some sexual practices. Outbreaks are commonly reported in the men who have sex with men (population. Previous exposure is thought to provide life-long immunity against subsequent infections with the development of an HAV IgG response. This paper reports a case of acute Hepatitis A infection, despite evidence of a previously positive Hepatitis A IgG results in an HIV-positive individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]