Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Science, Makerere University.
College of Health Science, Makerere University.
Afr Health Sci. 2022 Aug;22(Spec Issue):11-21. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v22i2.4S.
Observational studies provide important evidence supporting the feasibility and effectiveness of health interventions. The 20-year-old Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) established to respond to infectious diseases, specifically HIV/AIDS, invested in the set-up of longitudinal cohorts. In this paper we discuss the results of these cohorts and their impact on the response to the HIV pandemic in Uganda.
IDI invested in experienced system developers, clinic and laboratory capacity to create the infrastructure to host longitudinal cohorts. Several cohorts were created, including patients initiated and followed up on ART, specialized cohorts (e.g. TB co-infection) and long-term cohorts with patients on ART for over 10 years and aged 60 and above. These cohorts function as platforms for sub-studies, attracting collaborators and students.
Data from the IDI cohorts contributed evidence to ART programs on when to start, which drugs to use, how to best monitor and which models of care to implement. Sub-studies contributed to management of opportunistic infections, understanding immunological response and the emerging complications of non-communicable diseases.
Cohorts provide a platform for clinical care, training, and research to inform strategic responses and put Makerere University at the center of the response to the HIV pandemic in the region.
观察性研究为卫生干预措施的可行性和有效性提供了重要证据。为应对传染病，特别是艾滋病毒/艾滋病而成立的 20 岁的传染病研究所（IDI）投资建立了纵向队列。本文讨论了这些队列的结果及其对乌干达应对艾滋病毒大流行的影响。
IDI 投资于经验丰富的系统开发人员、诊所和实验室能力，以建立容纳纵向队列的基础设施。创建了几个队列，包括开始并接受抗逆转录病毒疗法（ART）治疗和随访的患者、专门队列（例如结核分枝杆菌合并感染）以及接受 ART 治疗 10 年以上且年龄在 60 岁及以上的长期队列。这些队列是子研究的平台，吸引了合作者和学生。
IDI 队列的数据为 ART 项目提供了关于何时开始、使用哪些药物、如何最佳监测以及实施哪种护理模式的证据。子研究有助于管理机会性感染、了解免疫反应以及非传染性疾病的新出现并发症。
队列为临床护理、培训和研究提供了一个平台，为战略应对提供信息，并使马凯雷雷大学成为该地区应对艾滋病毒大流行的中心。
