People With HIV has higher Long COVID Risk, reveals research
hiv
A new study published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome revealed that people with HIV (PWH) have a significantly higher risk of developing long COVID across multiple organ systems when compared to people without HIV (PWoH).
The study analyzed integrated electronic health records from South Carolina, covering COVID-19-positive patients tested between March 2, 2020, and January 15, 2022. This study compared long COVID outcomes among people with HIV and people without HIV, which examined 13 broad diagnosis groups that included 131 potential long COVID conditions.
Out of 838,520 COVID-19-positive individuals included in the analysis, 2,662 were living with HIV and 835,858 were not. This research adjusted for key factors like age, sex, race, and vaccination status to ensure a fair comparison between the two groups.
The results revealed that approximately 16.3 percent of people with HIV developed at least one long COVID condition, when compared to 10.6% of those without HIV. Overall, people living with HIV were 29% more likely to experience long COVID-related health issues.
The most pronounced risks were observed in neurological, mental health, and respiratory conditions. People with HIV were more than twice as likely to develop diseases affecting the nervous system. They also showed substantially higher risks for mental health disorders and respiratory complications following COVID-19 infection.
This research used advanced statistical methods, including inverse probability weighting and Cox proportional hazard modeling, to estimate risks across diagnosis categories. These techniques helped balance demographic and clinical characteristics between the HIV-positive and HIV-negative groups.
Elevated risks may be linked to immune system differences in people living with HIV, even among those receiving effective treatment. Chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation may make recovery from COVID-19 more difficult and increase vulnerability to persistent symptoms.
The findings highlight the importance of long-term follow-up care for COVID-19 survivors with HIV. Clinicians are encouraged to monitor neurological symptoms, mental health changes, and respiratory function in this population to reduce complications and improve quality of life. Targeted interventions, including early screening and rehabilitation services, may be particularly beneficial for people living with HIV.
Overall, the findings of this research conclude that sustained clinical attention is essential to reduce the long COVID burden in this population and to prevent long-term disability and morbidity. The study adds to growing proof that vulnerable groups may face disproportionate long-term consequences from COVID-19 infection.
Source:
Shi, F., Xia, H., Li, X., Olatosi, B., Weissman, S., & Yang, X. (2026). Long COVID between people with and without HIV: A statewide cohort analysis. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (1999). https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0000000000003840
