Lung health in HIV
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the burden of respiratory ill-health in people living with HIV and its treatment
IRAS ID
212037
Contact name
Paul Collini
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 27 days
Research summary
Since the introduction of antiretroviral treatment (ART), the immune system damage from HIV infection that led to AIDS is both recoverable and preventable. Those with HIV in the UK today can expect near normal life expectancy. However, as those with HIV grow old (over 25% in the UK are aged above 50) they may develop ailments associated with ageing including those that affect breathing. In the USA people with HIV appear to have more of these problems and at a younger age, for example cough or breathlessness or the lung condition COPD. It is not known whether this is because people with HIV are more likely to smoke or have had lung infections or also because HIV continues to have some affect on the immune system, despite ART, which contributes to lung damage. A concern is that these problems may not be picked up early enough through routine care.
We want to understand the extent of the lung problems among those living with HIV in the UK, how HIV and other factors contribute, who is at risk and how breathing problems impact their lives. It is important that we find answers to these questions now, to be ready as those with HIV grow older.
We will invite patients living with HIV and ART to a one off assessment of their breathing when they attend for routine HIV care in Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. We will use questionnaires to collect information about symptoms, how they affect day-to-day quality of life and ask about previous lung problems and factors that can affect breathing. Participants will also perform a test of lung function and have extra blood tests. From the patients’ records we will gather information about blood results and HIV medication. Some participants will be invited to return to have MRI scans of their lungs.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/YH/0358
Date of REC Opinion
16 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion