Steatotic liver disease in people with HIV at Tshepong Hospital: A post-mortem analysis.

Background: Liver disease is the leading cause of non-AIDS-related mortality in people living with HIV (PLWH). Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is increasingly recognised as an important aetiological factor in liver dysfunction in PLWH.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the post-mortem prevalence and severity of SLD and determine HIV- and non-HIV-related risk factors associated with it.

Cohort profile: the potentially preventable burden of community-acquired pneumonia in South African adults in the era of widespread PCV13 immunisation and antiretroviral therapy roll-out, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic - the multicentre, multimethod PotPrev Study.

Purpose: In the setting of an established childhood pneumococcal vaccination programme with immediate initiation and treatment of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV (PLWH), the risk of adult pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is not recently described. We aimed to investigate CAP incidence, recurrence, mortality, risk factors and microbiology before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participants: Adults aged ≥18 years were enrolled in three South African provinces from March 2019 to October 2021, with a brief halt during the initial COVID-19 lockdown.

A randomized trial for combination nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation among people with HIV in a low-resourced setting.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of combination nicotine replacement therapy (c-NRT) for smoking cessation among people with HIV (PWH) in South Africa.

Design: We conducted an open label, individually randomized clinical trial.

Methods: Using a two-armed approach, PWH who smoke were randomized to receive either 1) intensive anti-smoking behavioral counseling (BC) or 2) intensive anti-smoking BC plus c-NRT (nicotine patches augmented by nicotine gum).

Hypertension guideline implementation and blood pressure control in Matlosana, South Africa.

Background: High systolic blood pressure remains a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases worldwide and in South Africa (SA). Information about the extent of guideline implementation and blood pressure (BP) control is lacking in Matlosana Sub-district, North West province, SA. The study aimed to assess the implementation of the South African Hypertension Practice Guideline (SAHPG) and BP control in adults attending primary care facilities in Matlosana.