# COVID-19 and the MWCCS: Pathophysiology, Impact and Outcomes

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $359,561

## Abstract

COVID-19 and the MWCCS: Pathophysiology, Impact and Outcomes
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 cases continue to rise, with over 3,000,000 cases and 130,000 deaths in the US[1] and almost 12
million cases worldwide[2] to date. Manifestations of SARS CoV-2 infection range from asymptomatic to mild,
moderate, or severe disease, and primarily affects the lung, but increasing data suggests involvement of other
organ and blood systems.[3] Studies document more severe disease and higher mortality among people who
are older and/or have co-morbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and chronic lung disease.[4-7]
However, there is a paucity of data regarding the acquisition, occurrence and severity of infection among
people with HIV (PWH). There is also little data to guide prevention and treatment recommendations for this
population, many of whom are older and have comorbidities that may increase not only their risk for acquiring
infection, but also the morbidity and mortality among those who acquire infection. Moreover, early reports
suggest substantial racial disparities in US COVID-19 rates, with increases in mortality among African
Americans.[8] The MACS-WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS), the largest and longest-running
observational cohort of men and women living with or at risk for HIV in the US provides a unique opportunity to
address important knowledge gaps in the acquisition, occurrence, severity and outcomes of COVID-19. The
MWCCS is a geographically and racially/ethnically diverse cohort of aging men and women with a high
prevalence of risk factors for progression to severe COVID-19 disease including hypertension, diabetes,
obesity, and smoking. The MWCCS has a rich biorepository of specimens, collects rigorous clinical measures
including pulmonary, cardiac, kidney, neurocognitive, and physical function, body composition and has
performed cohort-wide genome association studies. The overarching goal of this application is to understand
the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic among US men and women with or at risk for HIV infection and to
evaluate host factors that contribute to disease acquisition, expression, severity and recovery. The proposed
studies will determine COVID incidence, short-term and long-term clinical outcomes, including thrombotic and
pulmonary sequelae, and how racial and geographic disparities; immune and genetic risk factors impact these
outcomes in the MWCCS.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10223572
- **Project number:** 3U01HL146208-02S4
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeremy James Martinson
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $359,561
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10223572

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10223572, COVID-19 and the MWCCS: Pathophysiology, Impact and Outcomes (3U01HL146208-02S4). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10223572. Licensed CC0.

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