Working Group « Aging & HIV »

Scientific significance

With the introduction of antiretroviral treatments and their gradual simplification, life expectancy for people living with HIV is now close to that of the general population. Nevertheless, this chronic infection is associated with premature and accelerated ageing, resulting in an increased frequency and severity of comorbidities. Whilst this phenomenon has been well studied in high–income countries, it is less well described and assessed in PRFI countries, where public health considerations play a fundamental role in the formulation of health policies.

Mission

The ‘HIV and Ageing’ Working Group aims to develop a multidisciplinary research project focused on PLHIV and tailored to the context of LDCs, which include some of the populations most affected by the disease.

The aim of the project would be to describe the clinical profile, needs and socio-health determinants of older PLHIV in PRFI, and then to evaluate the most appropriate interventions, based on evidence and compatible with the capacities of local health systems.

To this end, its members meet quarterly to:

• Map cohorts of older PLHIV in the WG’s member countries;
• Take stock of ongoing research on HIV/AIDS and ageing in order to identify remaining gaps;
• Discuss scientific priorities based on these gaps to develop the research project: clinical trials, interventional research, basic research, health systems and care, etc.;
• And identify funding sources.

Composition

The WG stands out for the diversity of its members:

• Geographical diversity, given the number of partner sites and ANRS MIE PRISMs represented, notably in Africa (Cameroon, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Togo), Latin America (Brazil) and Asia (Cambodia);
• Disciplinary diversity, as the WG encompasses both clinical and basic research, the humanities and social sciences, geriatrics, infectious diseases, mental health, etc.;
• As well as professional diversity through the participation of representatives from various institutions, associations and the scientific community: researchers, Expertise France, Sidaction, the ABOYA association in Dakar, etc.

The WG also brings together members from several coordinated actions: the CA ‘Clinical research on HIV’ (CA44), the CA ‘Host-virus interactions: basic and translational research on HIV’ (CA41) and the CA ‘Public health, HIV, sexual health and hepatitis’ (CA46).

Co-chairs