HIV clinical outcomes among people with HIV and diabetes mellitus in Kampala, Uganda; A matched retrospective cohort study.

Suppressive antiretroviral treatment (ART) has resulted into prolonged survival of people with HIV (PWH) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with resultant increase in the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCD), such as diabetes mellitus (DM). However, there is a lack of data on the effect of DM on HIV-related outcomes among PWH in this setting. The study aimed to compare HIV clinical outcomes (viral load suppression, retention in care, hospitalization, tuberculosis, and mortality) between PWH with DM and those without at two large HIV clinics in Kampala, Uganda.

Periodontal health in a large cohort of Ugandans living with HIV: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The impact of periodontitis on large populations of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in resource-constrained settings remains largely un-investigated. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by providing a comprehensive description of the periodontal health status among a sizable cohort of Ugandans living with HIV.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 4,449 participants who were over 18-years old with data captured on their reported age, gender, tobacco use, length of time on HAART and alcohol use.

Periodontal health in a large cohort of Ugandansliving with HIV: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The impact of periodontitis on large populations of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in resource-constrained settings remains largely un-investigated. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by providing a comprehensive description of the periodontal health status among a sizable cohort of Ugandans living with HIV.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 4,449 participants who were over 18-years old and captured their reported age, gender, tobacco use, length of time on HAART and alcohol use.

New Manual Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay Validated on Tongue Swabs Collected and Processed in Uganda Shows Sensitivity That Rivals Sputum-based Molecular Tuberculosis Diagnostics.

Background: Sputum-based testing is a barrier to increasing access to molecular diagnostics for tuberculosis (TB). Many people with TB are unable to produce sputum, and sputum processing increases assay complexity and cost. Tongue swabs are emerging as an alternative to sputum, but performance limits are uncertain.

Time to blood pressure control and predictors among patients receiving integrated treatment for hypertension and HIV based on an adapted WHO HEARTS implementation strategy at a large urban HIV clinic in Uganda.

In this cohort study, we determined time to blood pressure (BP) control and its predictors among hypertensive PLHIV enrolled in integrated hypertension-HIV care based on the World Health Organization (WHO) HEARTS strategy at Mulago Immunosuppression Clinic in Uganda. From August 2019 to March 2020, we enrolled hypertensive PLHIV aged 18 years and initiated Amlodipine 5 mg mono-therapy for BP (140-159)/(90-99) mmHg or Amlodipine 5 mg/Valsartan 80 mg duo-therapy for BP ≥ 160/90 mmHg. Patients were followed with a treatment escalation plan until BP control, defined as BP < 140/90 mmHg.

Acceptability of short message service reminders as the support tool for PrEP adherence among young women in Mukono district, Uganda.

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) have a disproportionately high incidence of HIV compared to males of the same age in Uganda. AGYW are a priority sub-group for daily oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), but their adherence has consistently remained low. Short Message Service (SMS) reminders could improve adherence to PrEP in AGYW.

Using the RE-AIM framework to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of a WHO HEARTS-based intervention to integrate the management of hypertension into HIV care in Uganda: a process evaluation.

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) HEARTS packages are increasingly used to control hypertension. However, their feasibility in persons living with HIV (PLHIV) is unknown. We studied the effectiveness and implementation of a WHO HEARTS intervention to integrate the management of hypertension into HIV care.

Diabetes mellitus care cascade among a cohort of persons living with HIV and hypertension in Uganda: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: In Uganda, it is recommended that persons with HIV receive integrated care to address both hypertension and diabetes. However, the extent to which appropriate diabetes care is delivered remains unknown and was the aim of this study.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study among participants receiving integrated care for HIV and hypertension for at least 1 year at a large urban HIV clinic in Mulago, Uganda to determine the diabetes care cascade.

HIV viral load suppression among people with mental disorders at two urban HIV Clinics in Uganda: a parallel convergent mixed methods study using the Social Ecological Model.

Uganda adopted and implemented the Universal Test and Treat (UTT) guidelines in 2017, which require HIV-infected persons to be initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at any CD4 + cell count, and to be routinely monitored for viral load to assess response to ART. However, there is paucity of data on viral load suppression (VLS) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) with mental disorders. We conducted a parallel convergent mixed methods study to determine HIV VLS among people with a mental disorder and explored the socio-cultural determinants of VLS at Butabika hospital and Mulago (ISS) HIV Clinics in Uganda.

Integrated multi-month dispensing of antihypertensive and antiretroviral therapy to sustain hypertension and HIV control.

Multi-month dispensing (MMD) is a patient-centered approach in which stable patients receive medicine refills of three months or more. In this pre-post longitudinal study, we determined hypertension and HIV treatment outcomes in a cohort of hypertensive PLHIV at baseline and 12 months of receiving integrated MMD. At each clinical encounter, one healthcare provider attended to both hypertension and HIV needs of each patient in an HIV clinic.

Trends and level of control of hypertension among adults attending an ambulatory HIV clinic in Kampala, Uganda: a retrospective study.

Background: With an ageing HIV-positive population, sub-Saharan Africa is now facing a dual epidemic of communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This study aimed to assess trends in the prevalence of hypertension and factors associated with hypertension, among adults attending an ambulatory HIV clinic in Kampala, Uganda.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review to identify patients with hypertension.