Table 4.
Comparison of survey results between 2020 and 2021 at the NHTD.
| 2020 surveya (n = 1110) | 2021 surveya (n = 1110) | pb | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incidence and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection | |||
| History of SARS-CoV-2 infection (self-reported) | |||
| Never diagnosed | 1102 (100.0) | 1102 (100.0) | – |
| Diagnosed via PCR | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Quarantined | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG antibody | |||
| Positive | 3 (0.3) | 9 (0.8) | 0.01 |
| Prevention measures against COVID-19 | |||
| Practiced | 1056 (97.8) | 1064 (98.5) | 0.19 |
| Change in social contactsc | |||
| No change | 496 (47.2) | 287 (27.3) | < 0.001 |
| Reduced | 547 (52.0) | 755 (71.8) | |
| Increased | 9 (0.9) | 10 (1.0) | |
| ART continuity | |||
| Missed scheduled visit (Jun/Jul 2020 vs. Jun/Jul 2021)d | |||
| No missed scheduled visits | 1239 (96.2) | 1026 (79.7) | < 0.001 |
| Missed scheduled visit with known reasone | 31 (2.4) | 247 (19.2) | |
| Missed scheduled visit without known reasonf | 18 (1.4) | 15 (1.2) | |
| Discontinuation of ART because of COVID-19 | |||
| Discontinued | 9 (0.9) | 16 (1.5) | 0.13 |
| HIV viral load (copies/mL) | |||
| < 20 | 994 (89.6) | 1018 (91.7) | 0.24 |
| 20–199 | 102 (9.2) | 87 (7.8) | |
| 200–999 | 6 (0.5) | 1 (0.1) | |
| ≥ 1000 | 8 (0.7) | 4 (0.4) | |
| Support for continuing ART and HIV care during COVID-19 | |||
| Received | 858 (82.3) | 1022 (98.1) | < 0.001 |
| Risky health behaviors | |||
| Change in alcohol consumptionc | |||
| Non-drinker or no change | 899 (83.5) | 854 (79.3) | < 0.01 |
| Decreased | 172 (16.0) | 219 (20.3) | |
| Increased | 6 (0.6) | 4 (0.4) | |
| Change in illicit drug usec | |||
| Non-drug user | 1067 (99.4) | 1065 (99.2) | 0.55 |
| No change | 1 (0.1) | 1 (0.1) | |
| Decreased | 6 (0.6) | 8 (0.7) | |
| Increased | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
NHTD National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, ART antiretroviral therapy, PCR polymerase chain reaction, Ig immunoglobulin.
aThe 2020 survey was conducted from June to July 2021. The 2021 survey was conducted from June 2021 to January 2022. The 1110 participants who completed both the 2020 (total participants = 1243) and 2021 (total participants = 1116) surveys were included. Responses to questions included in both the 2020 and 2021 surveys were compared.
bMcNemar test.
cCompared with before the COVID-19 pandemic.
dAll NHTD patients had scheduled visits during June–July each year. Visit status in June–July 2020 was used for the 2020 survey and that in June–July 2021 for the 2021 survey. The rate was calculated by dividing each number by the number of patients under follow-up at the end of 2019 (n = 1288) before the COVID-19 pandemic.
eMissed scheduled visit owing to death, transfer, and social distancing policy. There were no deaths owing to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
fMedical staff could not contact the patient.