Ambient air pollution and cardiovascular disease in Ugandan adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: The Lancet global health 2021-03, Vol.9, p.S21-S21
• Main Authors: Toe, Sophia, Nagy, Matthew, Albar, Zainab, Nazzinda, Rashida, Sattar, Abdus, Musiime, Victor, Etajak, Samuel, Walyawula, Felix, McComsey, Grace A, Atuyambe, Lynn, Dirajlal-Fargo, Sahera
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2214-109X; 2214-109X
• DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00129-7

Air pollution is known to induce systemic inflammation and contribute to cardiovascular disease. The effects of ambient air pollution on adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV) in Africa has been understudied. In this study, we aim to investigate the relationship between particulate matter, a common proxy indicator for air pollution, and markers of inflammation, monocyte activation, and cardiovascular disease risk. We recruited a cohort of PHIV-positive and HIV-negative adolescents who were from around Kampala, aged 10–18 years, had no known active infections, and who lived within 40 km of an PM2·5 monitoring site. Adolescents with PHIV were on ART with HIV-1 RNA concentrations ≤400 copies/mL. Daily ambient concentrations of particulate matter (PM2·5), a proxy for air pollution, were measured with continuous central site monitoring using a Beta Attenuation Monitor or E-Samplers from the GeoHealth Hub. We measured carotid intima media thickness (IMT) using ultrasound, plasma concentrations of soluble CD14 and CD163 as markers of monocyte activation, plasma markers of systemic inflammation (hsCRP, IL6, sTNFRI), oxidised lipids, and intestinal permeability (zonulin). One hundred and nineteen participants were included (69 with PHIV, 50 were HIV-negative). Median age was 12·7 years (IQR 11·4–14·2) years, 55% were female and 63% lived below the extreme poverty line (living with