Characteristics Of The Macs-Wihs Combined Cohort Study: Opportunities For Research On Aging With Hiv In The Longest Us Observational Study Of HIV.

In 2019, NIH combined the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study and the Women's Interagency HIV Study into the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS). Participants completing a visit October 2018-September 2019 (targeted for MWCCS enrollment) are described by HIV serostatus and compared to people living with HIV (PLWH) in the U.S. Participants include 2115 women, 1901 men, median age 56 years (IQR 48-63), 62% PLWH. Study sites encompass the South (18%), Mid-Atlantic/Northeast (45%), West Coast (22%), and Midwest (15%). Participant race/ethnicity approximates that of U.S. PLWH. Longitudinal data and specimens collected for 35 years (men) and 25 years (women) were combined. Differences in data collection and coding were reviewed and key risk factor and comorbidity data harmonized. For example, recent use of alcohol (62%) and tobacco (28%) are common, as are dyslipidemia (64%), hypertension (56%), obesity (42%), impaired daily activities (31%), depressive symptoms (28%), and diabetes (22%). The repository includes serum, plasma, cells, cell pellets, urine, cervical vaginal lavage, oral, B-cell lines, stool, and semen specimens. Demographic differences between the MACS and WIHS can confound analyses by sex. The merged MWCCS is both an ongoing observational cohort and a valuable resource of harmonized longitudinal data and specimens for HIV-related research.