# Building capacity for patient-centered outcomes research to improve the quality and impact of HIV care in Tanzania

> **NIH NIH D43** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $100,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
As a result of widespread access to effective antiretroviral treatments (ART), globally, life
expectancy for people living with HIV (PLWH) has increased substantially, nearing that of the
general population. In Tanzania, 1.7 million people are reported to be currently living with HIV.
About a third are >50 years of age, with estimations that this population will grow by 25% by
2040. The aging process is associated with molecular and cellular damage which subsequently
increase the risk for non-AIDs related comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease (CVD),
chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and cancer among aging PLWH. Persistent chronic immune
activation and inflammation that persists despite effective ART also increases the risk for these
NCDs. Age-related comorbidities including frailty, impairment in ADL, and cognitive dysfunction
are also prevalent among older PLWH and together with NCDs, which are increasingly
diagnosed at a younger age in PLWH, can significantly impact QOL. In Tanzania, the ageing
PLWH population is presenting considerable challenges for how to address prevention, and
treatment needs in these vulnerable group. Data on the current burden of geriatric and medical
co-morbidities among older PLWH and their impact on QOL in Tanzania is sparse. Identification
of these conditions is further complicated by infrequent use of screening tools adapted for
Tanzania for monitoring ageing-related co-morbidities such as frailty and cognitive functioning.
In this project, we will assess the burden of medical and geriatric comorbidities such as frailty
and cognitive dysfunction and their association with quality of life (QOL) in a cohort of PLWH
age>50 in urban Tanzania using a number of tools already validated in Tanzania and similar
settings. These data will inform subsequent qualitative interviews that will be conducted with
older PLWH reporting higher and lower QoL, to better understand and inform interventions
needed to reduce the burden of age-related co-morbidities and improve QoL. The project will
leverage resources and participants from an existing research cohort of ALHIV that was
established by Dr. Ottaru (Trainee Project Lead) to examine ideal health and CVD in 2020, and
is supported by the parent training grant. The establishment of a cohort of older PLWH will be
important for longitudinal research to understand the progression of comorbidities and
effectiveness of strategies and interventions to reduce burden, improve QoL and inform the care
needed for older PLWH in Tanzania and the region. The supplement meets the goals of the
parent D43 grant (1D43TWO10946-01A1, “Building capacity for patient-centered outcomes
research to improve the quality and impact of HIV care in Tanzania”) which is designed to build
capacity for patient-centered outcomes research in Tanzania. It will also provide the opportunity
for Dr. Ottaru to acquire news skills in the measurement of aging comorbidities, longitudinal
cohort m...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10872567
- **Project number:** 3D43TW010946-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Claudia A Hawkins
- **Activity code:** D43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $100,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-04-12 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10872567

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10872567, Building capacity for patient-centered outcomes research to improve the quality and impact of HIV care in Tanzania (3D43TW010946-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10872567. Licensed CC0.

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