Principal Investigator EndoAfrica study: Prof Carla Fourie
EndoAfrica study: The putative interface of emerging cardiovascular risk factors affecting populations living with and without HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The EndoAfrica study is a collaboration between Prof. Hans Strijdom at Stellenbosch University, Medical University Gräz (Austria), VITO NV, Hasselt University (Belgium), HART NWU (Potchefstroom) and Walter Sisulu University (Umtata).
The aim of the study is to examine the interaction between HIV-infection, antiretroviral treatment (ART) and cardiovascular risk in South African adults. The study particularly focuses on endothelial dysfunction as an early predictor of cardiovascular disease. A total of 270 HIV-infected and 90 HIV-free South African adults will be recruited by each of the three centres of the study; HART (North West Province), Walter Sisulu University (Eastern Cape) and Stellenbosch University (Western Cape). HIV status and ART use will be documented and measurements of cardiovascular health taken with sensitive apparatus.
Measures include flow mediated dilatation, arterial stiffness by pulse wave velocity, structural endothelial changes by sonar imaging of the carotid intima media, retinal imaging, and screening for hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidaemia and smoking, along with the analysis of vascular inflammation biomarkers in blood. All measures will be repeated after 18 months to evaluate the influence of HIV infection and ART on cardiovascular risk.
The study is discussed briefly on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hivaids-emerging-threat-cardiovascular-health-africa-why-de-boever
Building on the existing knowledge gained from populations outside of sub-Saharan Africa, the EndoAfrica study aims to understand how HIV and ART affects the interaction between communicable and non-communicable disease in South Africans where both HIV and cardiovascular disease are highly prevalent.
Financial Support:
The Department of Science and Technology of the Republic of South Africa is funding the HART (NWU) part of the EndoAfrica study.
