The multisite African Cohort Study (AFRICOS) is a large, long-term cohort study at multiple African sites that evaluates HIV prevention, care and treatment services it supports through local facilities, funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Specifically, researchers are studying current national treatment regimens and long-term outcomes such as time to progression to AIDS and mortality. They also will evaluate comprehensive demographics, social and behavioral risk factors and aspects of adherence.
Another critical component is the collection of data regarding co-infections such as malaria and tuberculosis, as well as non-infectious co-morbidities such as cognitive decline and cardiovascular complications.
Results from the ongoing study have been presented at major international conferences such as the International AIDS Conference (IAC) and Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). Â Study results have also been applied to an HIV continuum grading dashboard tool across sites evaluating antiretroviral coverage and its efficacy in terms of virologic suppression.