The Haiti cardiovascular disease cohort: study protocol for a population-based longitudinal cohort.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality among Haitians, having surpassed HIV in the last decade. Understanding the natural history of CVD in Haitians, including the age of onset, prevalence, incidence, and role of major risk factors and social determinants, is urgently needed to develop prevention and treatment interventions. Aim 1: Establish a population-based cohort of 3000 adults from Port-au-Prince and assess the prevalence of CVD risk factors and diseases and their association with social and environmental determinants. Aim 2: Determine the incidence of CVD risk factors and CVD during 2-3.5 years of follow-up and their association with social and environmental determinants. METHODS: The Haiti CVD Cohort is a longitudinal observational study of 3000 adults > 18 years in Port-au-Prince (PAP), Haiti. The study population is recruited using multistage random sampling from census blocks. Adults receive blood pressure (BP) measurements in the community and those with elevated BP are referred to the Groupe Haitien d'Etude Sarcome de Kaposi et des Infections Opportunistes Clinic for care. After informed consent, participants undergo a clinical exam with medical history. BP, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, a study questionnaire on health behaviors, and laboratory specimens. Every 6 months, BP is remeasured. At 12 and 24 months, clinical exams and questionnaires are repeated. Labs are repeated at 24 months. Adjudicated study outcomes include the prevalence and incidence of CVD risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, kidney disease, inflammation, poor diet, smoking, and physical inactivity) and events (myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and CVD mortality). We also measure social determinants including poverty. Depression, stress, social isolation, food insecurity, and lead exposure. Blood, urine, and stool samples are biobanked at study enrollment. DISCUSSION: The Haiti CVD Cohort is the largest population-based cohort study evaluating CVD risk factors and CVD among adults in urban Haiti with the goal of understanding the drivers of the CVD epidemic in Haiti. Study outcomes are comparable with existing international cohorts, and the biobank will provide important data for future research. Our goal is to translate findings from this study into pragmatic prevention and treatment interventions to fight the CVD epidemic in Haiti.

Success of community approach to HPV vaccination in school-based and non-school-based settings in Haiti.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the success of a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program among adolescent girls aged 9-14 years in Haiti and to understand predictors of completion of a two-dose HPV vaccination series. METHODS: Data collection was conducted during HPV vaccination campaigns in Port-au-Prince between August 2016 and April 2017. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to examine characteristics associated with vaccination series completion of school based and non-school based vaccination delivery modalities. RESULTS: Of the 2,445 adolescent girls who participated in the awareness program, 1,994 participants (1,307 in non-school program, 687 in school program) received the first dose of the vaccine; 1,199 (92%) in the non-school program and 673 (98%) in the school program also received the second dose. Menarche (OR: 1.87; 95% CI, 1.11-3.14), if the participant was a prior patient at the GHESKIO clinics (OR: 2.17; 95% CI, 1.32-3.58), and participating in the school-based program (OR: 4.17; 95% CI, 2.14-8.12) were significantly associated with vaccination completion. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination in school- and non-school-based settings was successful, suggesting that a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign using either approach would be successful using either approach.

Prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular risk factors among long-term AIDS survivors: A report from the field.

HIV infection is associated with increased risk and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet little is known about the prevalence of CVD risk factors among long-term AIDS survivors in resource-limited settings. Using routinely collected data, we conducted a retrospective study to describe the prevalence of CVD risk factors among a cohort of HIV-infected patients followed for over 10 years in Port-au Prince, Haiti. This cohort includes 910 adults who initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 2003 and 2004 and remained in care between 2014 and 2016 when routine screening for CVD risk factors was implemented at a large clinic in Haiti. A total of 397 remained in care ≥10 years and received screening. At ART initiation, 59% were female, median age was 38 years (IQR 33-44), and median CD4 count was 117 cells/mm3 (IQR 34-201). Median follow-up time from ART initiation was 12.1 years (IQR 11.7-12.7). At screening, median CD4 count was 574 cells/mm3 (IQR 378-771), and 84% (282 of 336 screened) had HIV-1 RNA < 1000 copies/mL. Seventy-four percent of patients had at least 1 risk factor including 58% (224/385) with hypertension, 8% (24/297) diabetes, 43% (119/275) hypercholesterolemia, 8% (20/248) active smoking, and 10% (25/245) obesity. Factors associated with hypertension were age (adjusted OR 1.06, P < .001) and weight at screening (adjusted OR 1.02, P = .019). Long-term AIDS survivors have a high prevalence of CVD risk factors, primarily hypertension. Integration of cardiovascular screening and management into routine HIV care is needed to maximize health outcomes among aging HIV patients in resource-limited settings.

A Successful Model of Expedited Antiretroviral Therapy for Clinically Stable Patients Living With HIV in Haiti.

BACKGROUND: Recommendations for universal antiretroviral therapy have greatly increased the number of HIV-infected patients who qualify for treatment, particularly with early clinical disease. Less intensive models of care are needed for clinically stable patients. SETTING: A rapid pathway (RP) model of expedited outpatient care for clinically stable patients was implemented at the Haitian Group for the Study of Kaposi's Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections (GHESKIO) Center, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Expedited visits included nurse-led assessments and point-of-service antiretroviral therapy dispensing. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis including patients who initiated RP care between June 1, 2014, and September 30, 2015, comparing outcomes of patients with timely visit attendance (never >3 days late) with patients with ≥1 nontimely visit within 6 months before RP enrollment. We calculated retention in care and adherence at 12 months, and assessed predictors of both outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 2361 patients who initiated RP care during the study period, 1429 (61%) had timely visit attendance and 932 (39%) had ≥1 nontimely visit before RP enrollment. Among RP-enrolled patients, 94% were retained at 12 months and 75% had ≥90% adherence, with higher proportions in those with timely pre-RP visits (95% vs. 92%; 87% vs. 55%). In multivariable analysis, pre-RP visit timeliness was associated with both retention (adjusted odds ratio: 1.67; 95% confidence interval: 1.08 to 2.59) and adherence (adjusted odds ratio: 4.53; 95% confidence interval: 3.58 to 5.72). CONCLUSIONS: RP care was associated with high levels of retention and adherence for clinically stable patients. Timeliness of pre-RP visits was predictive of outcomes after RP initiation.

Retention in Care among Patients with Early HIV Disease in Haiti.

In September 2015, the World Health Organization updated their guidelines to recommend antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all people living with HIV. Countries are now in the process of implementing strategies to provide universal HIV treatment. We analyzed the rate of retention and time to ART eligibility (according to 2013 WHO guidelines) among 3,345 adult patients receiving positive HIV test results between February 1, 2003 and March 31, 2013 at the GHESKIO Clinic in Haiti, with WHO stage 1 or 2 disease and initial CD4 cell count >500 cells/mm3. Among the 3,345 patients, 2,423 (72%) were female, the median age was 33 years, 3,089 (92%) lived in Port-au-Prince, and 1,944 (58%) had attended no school or primary school only. The median initial CD4 cell count was 668 cells/mm3 (IQR: 572-834); over the subsequent 2 years, 1,485 patients (44%) were lost to follow-up and 7 (<1%) died pre-ART, 1,041 (31%) were retained in pre-ART care, and 819 (24%) initiated ART. In multivariate analysis, secondary education (aOR 1.27; 95% CI: 1.10-1.47), female gender (aOR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.09-1.50), co-habitation (aOR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.09-1.57), and residence in Port-au-Prince (aOR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.09-1.88) were associated with retention in care. The median time from baseline CD4 count to ART eligibility was 1.7 years. Prior to the implementation of universal treatment, pre-ART attrition was high among patients who did not qualify for ART at presentation. Though implementing WHO recommendations for universal ART will require service expansion, it will likely result in improved retention for those at risk of being lost to follow-up.