The COAST study observes health outcomes of people living with HIV, as compared with the general population.
Many individuals living with HIV are living longer, thanks to antiretroviral treatment which improves quality of life and longevity. A study housed at the BC-CfE is looking to better understand how individuals are living, and aging, with HIV in BC-as compared with a sample of the province’s general population. Some of the key findings from COAST uncover important shifts in health concerns that can help in navigating the health care system. These findings can inform health care providers, policymakers and people living with HIV.
About COAST
The Comparative Outcomes And Service Utilization Trends (COAST) study is a population-based cohort study that aims to examine the health outcomes and health service use of people living with HIV (PLHIV), including both those who are accessing and not accessing antiretroviral therapy, as compared to the general population of British Columbia. The study comprises two dened cohorts of adults (≥ 19 years): a cohort including PLHIV and a comparison group consisting of a 10% random sample of adults from thegeneral population of BC followed from 1996 to 2013. COAST contains de-identifed health-related data on antiretroviral and health service use from the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) and other health administrative data holdings within Population Data BC. The study currently has linked data from 1996 to 2013, with future data linkages planned for additional years.
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