Category Archives: Population(s)
Inflammatory biomarkers predicting major adverse cardiovascular events in people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction Chronic inflammation is a unique contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among people living with HIV, yet there is a lack of consensus on the predictive utility of inflammatory...
Rifapentine-isoniazid versus isoniazid-alone therapy for tuberculosis prevention among people living with HIV (PLHIV): A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials
Introduction Tuberculosis (TB), a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV), accounted for 161,000 deaths among HIV-co-infected patients in 2023. Tuberculosis preventive therapy...
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the MENA region: A systematic review with comparative evidence from sub-Saharan Africa
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces distinct challenges in addressing the HIV epidemic, including social stigma, limited surveillance data, and insufficient coverage of prevention services. Prevention of...
Alternative administration of antiretroviral therapy in people with HIV unable to swallow: A scoping review
PURPOSE: To review published evidence on alternative administration methods for antiretroviral therapy in patients unable to swallow tablets. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review using PubMed, Web of Science, and...
Factors influencing implementation of point-of-care tests for maternal and newborn screening and diagnosis in low-resource settings: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Despite the potential of point-of-care (POC) tests to improve maternal and newborn health, implementation in low- and middle-income countries remains inconsistent. POC testing enables rapid, decentralized screening, but barriers...
Effect of donor exclusion criteria on blood safety and volume of donations: A systematic review of modelling studies
Objective To assess the effect of easing bans and deferral policies on blood donation from men who have sex with men on blood safety and volume from modelling studies. Methods We searched...
The gap in integrated pediatric care: A systematic review of family-based weight management for children living with HIV
BACKGROUND: As children living with HIV (CWH) achieve longer life expectancy, they face an emerging ‘double burden’ of infectious and non-communicable diseases, specifically pediatric overweight and obesity (OW/OB). This risk...
Effects of transition from paediatric to adult HIV care on virological outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: HIV remains a major global burden, with 2.4 million children and adolescents affected, 84% living in sub-Saharan Africa. As adolescents age, transitioning from paediatric to adult HIV care represents a...
Global coverage of interventions for reduction of injecting drug use-related harm, HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis in prisons and other carceral settings: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: People who are incarcerated experience disproportionately high rates of injecting drug use and infectious disease, including HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis. However, comprehensive global data regarding the availability of...
The vaginal microbiome of pregnant people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A pilot study and global meta-analysis
Recent studies reveal that a suboptimal vaginal microbiome (VMB), including the enrichment of anaerobic bacteria associated with multiple female genital disorders, is linked to adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes in...
A systematic review and meta-analysis on the association between antiretroviral therapy refill type and viral suppression
To reduce barriers to viral suppression, people living with HIV (PLWH) are placed on multi-month dispensing (MMD)of antiretroviral therapy medication. However, there are concerns about viral rebound following MMD initiation,...
Rapid diagnostic tests, laboratory-based immunoassay and nucleic acid testing strategies for long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (LAI-PrEP) is a highly effective biomedical intervention for the prevention of HIV acquisition. There is a strong interest among communities and policymakers for LAI-PrEP scale-up,...
