Study title: Characterising heart disease in African youth with perinatally-acquired HIV

Lead Researcher(s)

Dr. Edith Majonga

Sponsor

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Funder

Wellcome Trust

Partners

Biomedical Research & Training Institution

Background

This study aims to characterise heart disease among African youth with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV), a group with a high burden of cardiac abnormalities despite antiretroviral therapy. Previous studies using coarse imaging such as echocardiography have shown significant structural and functional abnormalities, but these methods cannot detect tissue level injury or coronary artery disease. The study will integrate advanced cardiovascular imaging and biochemical profiling, to determine whether HIV related heart disease in this population is driven primarily by ischaemic mechanisms, non-atherosclerotic myocardial injury, or a combination of both. CHART-HIV seeks to elucidate the complex intersection of cardiovascular disease and infectious states, with the goal of informing better prevention and treatment strategies for this vulnerable population.

Study design

This is a single-centre observational study designed to assess cardiac pathology in young adults with PHIV. The study will recruit 180 young adults with PHIV and 50 frequency-matched comparators without HIV.

Start dates

May 2026