Category Archives: Epidemiology and Determinants of Health
Disparities in COVID-19 mortality amongst the immunosuppressed: A systematic review and meta-analysis for enhanced disease surveillance
Background Effective disease surveillance, including that for COVID-19, is compromised without a standardised method for categorising the immunosuppressed as a clinical risk group. Methods We conducted a systematic review and...
Incidence and risks of HIV infection, medication options, and adverse effects in accidental needle stick injuries: A narrative review
Accidental needle sticks can lead to infections, including HIV. As scientists have learned more about HIV and its replicative physiology, identification of target sites and novel medications have been developed....
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein among people living with HIV on highly active antiretroviral therapy: A systemic review and meta-analysis
The pathological consequences of inflammation persist in people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH), regardless of the positive outcomes of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The current systematic review...
Impact of harm minimization interventions on reducing blood-borne infection transmission and some injecting behaviors among people who inject drugs: An overview and evidence gap mapping
Background This study aimed to synthetize the evidence on the effectiveness of harm minimization interventions on reducing blood-borne infection transmission and injecting behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWID) through...
Association between genital mycoplasmas (Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis) and HIV infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Several studies have reported the occurrence of genital mycoplasmas (Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Mycoplasma fermentans) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, but findings are conflicting. The aim...
Effectiveness of linkage to care and prevention interventions following HIV self-testing: A global systematic review and meta-analysis
Over 38.4 million people were living with HIV globally in 2021. The HIV continuum includes HIV testing, diagnosis, linkage to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), and retention in care. An important...
Global prevalence of depressive symptoms among people living with HIV/AIDS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the past five years
A clear and accurate assessment of depressive symptoms among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the past five years is essential to help develop reasonable and sound interventions to improve...
Endothelial dysfunction, a predictor of cardiovascular disease in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Aim Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) is available, the rate of new HIV infections is alarming. With this trend, it is anticipated that the use of ART will continue to rise,...
Recent advances in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders: A focus on older adults and sub-Saharan Africa
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We reviewed recent literature on prevalence and interventional approaches for cognitive impairment in the context of HIV infection alongside current controversies and challenges around its nomenclature, screening,...
Effect of intake of probiotics and probiotic fermented foods on clinical outcomes among people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the effect of probiotics and of probiotic-fermented foods on CD4 T-cell count, viral load, anaemia and body mass index (BMI) among...
