Abstract
Since 1986, antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been available free of charge to individuals living with HIV in British Columbia (BC), Canada, through the BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) Drug Treatment Program (DTP). The Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) Observational Medical Evaluation and Research (HOMER) cohort was established in 1996 to maintain a prospective record of clinical measurements and medication profiles of a subset of DTP participants initiating HAART in BC. This unique cohort provides a comprehensive data source to investigate mortality, prognostic factors and treatment response among people living with HIV in BC from the inception of HAART. Currently over 5000 individuals are enrolled in the HOMER cohort. Data captured include socio-demographic characteristics (e.g. sex, age, ethnicity, health authority), clinical variables (e.g. CD4 cell count, plasma HIV viral load, AIDS-defining illness, hepatitis C co-infection, mortality) and treatment variables (e.g. HAART regimens, date of treatment initiation, treatment interruptions, adherence data, resistance testing). Research findings from the HOMER cohort have featured in numerous high-impact peer-reviewed journals. The HOMER cohort collaborates with other HIV cohorts on both national and international scales to answer complex HIV-specific research questions, and welcomes input from external investigators regarding potential research proposals or future collaborations. For further information please contact the principal investigator, Dr Robert Hogg (robert_hogg@sfu.ca).
Highlights
VC The Author 2014; all rights reserved
Analyses within the HAART Observational Medical Evaluation and Research (HOMER) cohort have shown that expanding Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) coverage within British Columbia (BC) has reduced HIV transmission on a population level, emphasizing ‘Treatment as Prevention’ as a key element of the comprehensive HIV combination prevention framework
Since 1986, antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been available free of charge to medically eligible HIV-positive individuals living in British Columbia (BC), Canada
Summary
VC The Author 2014; all rights reserved. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association. The HOMER cohort provides longitudinal data on socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory variables for ART-naıve individuals who have initiated HAART in BC since the advent of triple combination therapy.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.