Ectopic Fat, Dyslipidaemia and HIV
Research type
Research Database
IRAS ID
272172
Contact name
Thomas Heseltine
Contact email
Research summary
Ectopic Fat, Dyslipidaemia and HIV
REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
21/SS/0032
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jun 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion
Data collection arrangements
A search of the Trust radiology system will be undertaken in those HIV positive patients from the research database. In those that have undergone a CT thorax, for any indication, over the last 10 years an assessment of coronary calcification will be made. This will be recorded as a binary outcome (yes or no). Mean liver Hounsfield units and liver/spleen Hounsfield units will also be calculated using Trust radiology systems. This allows quantification of the presence of hepatosteatosis. To assess epicardial fat the dataset will be downloaded onto an encrypted hard drive. The dataset will be completely anonymised automatically at the point of download and patient identifiers replaced with the study number. Quantification of epicardial fat will be undertaken using dedicated software. This information will be added onto the research database. The CT datasets will be kept on the encrypted hard drive as part of the research database.
Research programme
The association of ectopic fat deposition (epicardial fat and hepatosteatosis) with CVD in PLWHIV is not well delineated. Given that liver related mortality and CVD are the leading cause of non-AIDS related mortality in PLWHIV this is a current and unmet health need. The purpose of this database is to allow further investigation of the complex interplay between HIV related factors and ectopic fat deposition. By including HIV-negative patients we will be able to compare disease processes and analyse any potentially unique disease processes in PLWHIV.
Research database title
Ectopic Fat, Dyslipidaemia and HIV
Establishment organisation
Liverpool University Foundation Hospital Trust
Establishment organisation address
Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Prescot Street
L7 8XP