Does HIV put you at higher risk from coronavirus? Here’s what the experts say

Certain people with HIV may get very sick from coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People with a low CD4 cell count -- also known as a T-cell count -- and who aren’t on HIV treatment have the greatest risk, the CDC said.

The likelihood of getting very sick also depends on the person’s age and other underlying medical conditions, according to the CDC.

Almost half of the people diagnosed with HIV in the U.S. are age 50 or older, according to the CDC. People who are HIV positive also are more likely to have other health conditions, which could lead to more severe illness from coronavirus.

People who are HIV positive but have low levels of the virus aren’t at a higher risk of getting the coronavirus, Sarah Henn, an infectious disease specialist, told The Washington Blade.

“When I think of people who are at increased risk or high risk for coronavirus I think of people who are significantly immunosuppressed,” she said, according to the Blade. “I think of people who are going through cancer chemotherapy, people who are immunosuppressed with medications with a history of organ transplants, and people with a very low CD4 count and uncontrolled HIV and AIDS.”

This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 9:35 PM with the headline "Does HIV put you at higher risk from coronavirus? Here’s what the experts say."