Been seeing folks discuss the "6% only died of COVID-19 alone", and thought I'd have something productive to add since I'm an HIV virologist by training.
After years of virus spread, and in the absence of treatment, a patient infected with HIV will develop AIDS. (1/4)
After years of virus spread, and in the absence of treatment, a patient infected with HIV will develop AIDS. (1/4)
During this state of HIV progression, white blood cells called T-cells are depleted. This can allow co-infecting pathogens to spread unchecked or tumor cells to grow & metastasize. Hence pneumonia & AIDS-associated cancers are leading causes of death in HIV+ patients. (2/4)
For SARS-CoV-2, the assault it elicits on the lungs can greatly exacerbate other pre-existing conditions. So things like cardiac arrest, renal failure, liver failure, sepsis, lung scarring, etc. can all occur post-infection with SARS-CoV-2, leading to death. (3/4)
Those saying "only 6% die from COVID-19 alone", or some derivation thereof, don't understand how infectious diseases work. Many are not operating in good faith, & are the same people who have downplayed this pandemic since February. (4/4)
