# Clinical Core

> **NIH NIH U19** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2020 · $632,901

## Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has now spread from high- and middle-income countries to low-income countries,
including Haiti and Tanzania. The natural history of COVID-19 is unknown in low-income countries. We
propose to study a combined cohort of 3,054 adults in Haiti and Tanzania to determine the attack rate of
SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19, to examine interactions with HIV infection, pulmonary
tuberculosis, and hypertension in populations of African descent, and to determine long term cardiac
complications of COVID-19. Cornell University has collaborated with the Groupe Haitien d’Etude du Sarcome
de Kaposi et des Infections Opportunistes (GHESKIO) in Haiti for 38 years and for 15 years with the Mwanza
Intervention Trials Unit (MITU) in Tanzania. The proposed emergency supplement leverages these
collaborations and four established NIH-supported cohorts, which have already been enrolled, to address
NIAID priority areas. The specific aims are:
1.To determine the incidence proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the attack rate and risk factors
for severe COVID-19, in well characterized cohorts of 3,054 adults from low-income communities in
Haiti and Tanzania. Starting May 1, 2020 we will conduct monthly telephone interviews with the 3,054
participants who are in active follow-up to record symptoms of COVID-19 during the pandemic. Participants will
also be encouraged to telephone us if they develop new symptoms. We have cell phone numbers for all
cohort participants and have established procedures for telephone communication. We will also review hospital
records, perform verbal autopsies, and grade severity of COVID-19. We have banked sera from all participants
collected in 2016-2019. In September-November 2020 and again in March-May 2021, we will collect follow-up
sera and perform serologic testing for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. We will determine the
odds for development of severe COVID-19 in participants who had HIV, TB, and hypertension.
2. To determine the cardiac complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 1,909 adults with known baseline
cardiac function. In 1,909 patients who previously had baseline EKGs and echocardiograms (2016-2019), we
will repeat cardiac echo and EKG in 2021 to quantify the odds for development of incident left ventricular
systolic dysfunction in those who did and did not become SARS-CoV-2 infected. LV function will be quantified
by global longitudinal strain. We will also determine incidence of right ventricular systolic dysfunction,
pulmonary hypertension and segmental wall motion abnormalities by echocardiogram, and new Q-waves and
other abnormalities on EKG.
Defining viral infection rates and natural history in low-income countries will be critical for future prevention
interventions. Determining risk for people with HIV, TB, and hypertension will improve their care and
prevention. Understanding cardiac sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 will improve care for COVID-19 survivors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10197822
- **Project number:** 3U19AI111143-07S1
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Daniel W Fitzgerald
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $632,901
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2014-07-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10197822

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10197822, Clinical Core (3U19AI111143-07S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10197822. Licensed CC0.

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