COVID-19 epidemiology and performance of the WHO clinical algorithm to diagnose COVID-19 in people with HIV from Ukraine.

Background: The two main objectives were to evaluate the COVID-19 point prevalence and the test performance of the WHO case definition to diagnose COVID-19 clinically in people with HIV in West Ukraine.

Methods: Multicenter cross-sectional study in Lviv, Ukraine, from October 2020-November 2021. COVID-19 unvaccinated people with HIV were included regardless of COVID-19 symptoms at routine clinical visits and had standardized medical, quality of life (EQ(5D)) and SARS-CoV-2 serology assessments.

The reporting of the mode of transmission among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Lviv oblast, Ukraine, 2014-2018.

Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are one of the key populations driving HIV/AIDS epidemic globally. To date, MSM is the only population in Ukraine where the prevalence and incidence of HIV is increasing. As HIV-positive MSM might feel uncomfortable to report homosexual intercourses as a possible mode of transmission (MoT) of HIV, they prefer being registered as patients with heterosexual or non-defined MoT.

Anxiety, depression, and quality of life among HIV positive injection drug users in Ukraine, 2017.

Introduction: People who inject drugs (PWID) are one of the key populations most vulnerable to HIV infection, with 28 times higher prevalence compared to the rest of the population. PWID are known to have many physical, psychological and lifestyle challenges that can influence access to care. Depression is common among PWID living with HIV.

Establishing a hepatitis C continuum of care among HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected individuals in EuroSIDA.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to establish a methodology for evaluating the hepatitis C continuum of care in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected individuals and to characterize the continuum in Europe on 1 January 2015, prior to widespread access to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy.

Methods: Stages included in the continuum were as follows: anti-HCV antibody positive, HCV RNA tested, currently HCV RNA positive, ever HCV RNA positive, ever received HCV treatment, completed HCV treatment, follow-up HCV RNA test, and cure. Sustained virological response (SVR) could only be assessed for those with a follow-up HCV RNA test and was defined as a negative HCV RNA result measured > 12 or 24 weeks after stopping treatment.

Long-term effectiveness of recommended boosted protease inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy in Europe.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term response to antiretroviral treatment (ART) based on atazanavir/ritonavir (ATZ/r)-, darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r)-, and lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)-containing regimens.

Methods: Data were analysed for 5678 EuroSIDA-enrolled patients starting a DRV/r-, ATZ/r- or LPV/r-containing regimen between 1 January 2000 and 30 June 2013. Separate analyses were performed for the following subgroups of patients: (1) ART-naïve subjects (8%) at ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI/r) initiation; (2) ART-experienced individuals (44%) initiating the new PI/r with a viral load (VL) ≤500 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL; and (3) ART-experienced patients (48%) initiating the new PI/r with a VL >500 copies/mL.

The changing face of women living with HIV in western Ukraine.

Ukraine has the second largest HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe/Central Asia. This study characterizes the demographics of HIV-infected women in the Lviv region of western Ukraine, patterns in their clinical presentation, and factors associated with delays in seeking care. A retrospective chart review was conducted of 622 HIV-infected women who registered for HIV treatment at the Lviv AIDS Center between 2008 and 2013.