Training Years: 2016-2017
Training Site: Makerere University
Country: Uganda
Mentor: Will Checkley, MD, PhD
Title: Assessing Risk factors for COPD among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Rural Uganda
Project Objectives: Our goal is to identify risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The proposed study would be the first to examine the interactions of HIV and COPD in a population-based sample in Uganda, a growing concern given the aging population on anti-retroviral treatment (ART). We intend to use the results to inform health policy makers in Uganda on integrating COPD diagnosis and treatment in this population into HIV care program.
Aim 1: To determine attributable-risk factors for COPD among PLWHA including environmental exposures (biomass, tobacco) and socioeconomic status (income, education, household size) when compared to a seronegative sample.
Aim 2: To assess severity of COPD (FEV1, respiratory symptoms) according to CD4+T cell count, ART therapy, history of TB, history of recurrent bacterial pneumonia and opportunistic lung infections.
NIH Support: Fogarty fellowship postdoctoral training award
