About The Study

This study will investigate accelerated aging in people living with HIV, looking in particular at cardiovascular disease (CVD). Researchers will also develop tools for analyzing chemical signals in the blood that may help further understanding of many aging related health issues like heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, memory loss, and brittle bones. The researchers will look for factors that impact on longevity including: the age of the person when infection occurred, the CD4 cell count, the time spent with CD4 count of greater than 500 cells/mm3 and other variables. The study is a large controlled cohort looking to enroll 2000 participants (half with HIV and half without). Participants will be followed for five years and will be invited to participate in the main cohort as well as any or all of the four pre-planned sub-studies. The sub studies are looking at plaque build up in the arteries, abnormalities in blood glucose levels as an indicator of disease, immune system reaction to CVD, and genetic testing.

About The Disease

In Canada by 2015, it is estimated that 50% of people living with HIV will be 50 years or older. Study researchers note that some age-related diseases appear to be overrepresented in the population of people living with HIV, appearing approximately 5 to 10 years earlier than in the general population. Not all people living with HIV show signs of accelerated aging and the aging process is complex and not completely understood. The study researchers speculate that the chronic and persistent inflammation associated with HIV, leads to accelerated aging, characterized in part by premature CVD. Following participants for five years will provide insight into higher incidence rates of CVD and accelerated aging in people living with HIV.

Study Approach

Approximately 1000 participants living with HIV will be recruited and 1000 participants without HIV will be recruited for the study. At least 30 per cent of the participants will be women. Participants will be followed for a period of five years and participate in ten clinical visits. Clinical assessments will include collection of medical history, vital signs, blood samples, weight and waist circumference measurement. In addition to participation in the overall cohort, all participants recruited in the study will be invited to participate in pre-planned sub-studies. The sub-studies will focus on specific aspects of cardiovascular disease and its determinants. A variety of imaging and laboratory diagnostic tests are offered to the participants willing to take part in the sub-studies. Participants will be encouraged to undergo as many sub-studies as possible, as the collection of as much data as possible on the same participants will allow better understanding of the development of cardiovascular disease in HIV infection. Refusal to participate in all or some of the sub-studies will not impair participant’s participation in the main cohort study.

Eligibility Requirements

Required

  • Older than 40 years old or adult (greater than 18 years) with duration of HIV infection lasting for at least 15 years (as proved by anti-HIV antibodies) at the time of enrolment
  • Able to provide informed consent
  • Life expectancy greater than one year

Eligibility to participate in sub-studies is subject to various inclusion / exclusion criteria, each detailed in the sub-study informed consent form. Please contact study researchers for these details.

Additional Information

If you would like more information on this clinical study, please refer to a participating site.

Principal Investigators

Here’s who is leading this study.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Email ctninfo@hivnet.ubc.ca.

Dr. Madeleine Durand

Co-Leader, Clinical Care and Management Core; Member, Steering Committee

Centre Hospitalier de l'Univesité de Montréal

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Participating Sites

Here’s where this study is being conducted.

Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM)

Montréal, QC

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Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (CHUQ)

Québec City, QC

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