Retinal photography in older HIV positive adults
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using retinal photography to estimate cerebrovascular and cardiovascular health in HIV positive adults aged over fifty, HIV negative controls aged over fifty, and younger HIV positive adults
IRAS ID
142117
Contact name
Lewis Haddow
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Office
Research summary
Because of the success of anti-retroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV, a growing proportion of people living with HIV (PLWH) are now aged over 50 years. Conditions of older age will become increasingly important in PLWH. Previous research suggests that strokes and dementia may be more common and/or occur at an earlier age in HIV, compared to the general population.
This study will use photography of the retina, a method often used to estimate the extent of diseases in the brain. The blood vessels can be measured using special photography and measurement techniques. Previous work has established that retinal blood vessel measurements are associated with risk of stroke, risk of death, and risk factors for disease of the heart and arteries.
The aim is to compare the diameters of retinal blood vessels between HIV+ patients aged over 50 and HIV-negative controls also aged over 50, to provide an estimate of whether older HIV+ people have worse disease of the blood vessels of the brain than the general population. The research will involve a single visit for retinal photography per patient, with the images being graded by ophthalmologists at the Reading Centre in Moorfields Eye Hospital, London. The study will recruit men who are over 50 who are either HIV positive or negative, as well as men aged under 50 who are HIV positive, who are already participating in a study known as POPPY. Participants will also be required to provide information about their health that may relate to strokes and heart disease (such a smoking history and blood pressure) or to eye health.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0316
Date of REC Opinion
11 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion