CASCADE protocol: exploring current viral and host characteristics, measuring clinical and patient-reported outcomes, and understanding the lived experiences and needs of individuals with recently acquired HIV infection through a multicentre mixed-methods observational study in Europe and Canada
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Cristina Mussini,
Fiona Burns,
Shema Tariq,
Fiona M Burns,
Caroline Sabin,
Udi Davidovich,
Bruno Spire,
John Gill,
Marc van der Valk,
Linda Wittkop,
Laurence Meyer,
Kholoud Porter,
Inés Suárez-García,
Giota Touloumi,
Lars Eriksson,
Sophie Grabar,
Santiago Moreno,
Emily Jay Nicholls,
Christina Carlander,
Elisa Ruiz-Burga,
Alain Volny Anne,
Inma Jarrin,
Nikos Pantazis,
Rafael Eduardo Campo,
Harmony Garges,
Barbara Pinto,
Vani Vannappagari,
Alain Volny Anne,
Lital Young,
Marc van der Valk,
Agnes Aisam,
Diana Barger,
Marie Dos Santos,
Eli Fitzgerald,
Argyro Karakosta,
Hartmut Krentz,
Nicoletta Policek,
Chris Sandford
Affiliations
Cristina Mussini
10 Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena Hospital, Modena, Italy
Fiona Burns
1 Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
Shema Tariq
2University College London, London, UK
Fiona M Burns
Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
Caroline Sabin
Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
Udi Davidovich
Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Bruno Spire
Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, ISSPAM Marseille France, Marseille, France
John Gill
Southern Alberta HIV Clinic, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Marc van der Valk
Infectious Diseases and Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Linda Wittkop
INSERM, BPH, U1219, CIC-EC 1401, Universite Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
Laurence Meyer
4 INSERM SC10 US19, Villejuif, France
Kholoud Porter
Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
Inés Suárez-García
Giota Touloumi
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Lars Eriksson
Sophie Grabar
INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Sorbonne Université, AP-HP, Hôpital St Antoine, Paris, France
Santiago Moreno
Emily Jay Nicholls
2University College London, London, UK
Christina Carlander
Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Elisa Ruiz-Burga
Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
Alain Volny Anne
Paris, Paris, Île-de-France, France
Inma Jarrin
National Centre of Epidemiology, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
Nikos Pantazis
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Introduction Despite the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral therapy (ART), 21 793 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in Europe in 2019. The Concerted action on seroconversion to AIDS and death in Europe study aims to understand current drivers of the HIV epidemic; factors associated with access to, and uptake of prevention methods and ART initiation; and the experiences, needs and outcomes of people with recently acquired HIV.Methods and analysis This longitudinal observational study is recruiting participants aged ≥16 years with documented laboratory evidence of HIV seroconversion from clinics in Canada and six European countries. We will analyse data from medical records, self-administered questionnaires, semistructured interviews and participatory photography. We will assess temporal trends in transmitted drug resistance and viral subtype and examine outcomes following early ART initiation. We will investigate patient-reported outcomes, well-being, and experiences of, knowledge of, and attitudes to HIV preventions, including PrEP. We will analyse qualitative data thematically and triangulate quantitative and qualitative findings. As patient public involvement is central to this work, we have convened a community advisory board (CAB) comprising people living with HIV.Ethics and dissemination All respective research ethics committees have approval for data to contribute to international collaborations. Written informed consent is required to take part. A dissemination strategy will be developed in collaboration with CAB and the scientific committee. It will include peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and accessible summaries of findings on the study’s website, social media and via community organisations.
