Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

BACKGROUND: Globally, more than half of all people with HIV are women. With effective treatment, people are now living with, rather than dying from, HIV. However, women living with HIV experience higher rates of chronic diseases and live 5-10 years shorter than their HIV-negative peers, suggesting they may be aging faster than the general population. Aging leads to the gradual decline of bodily functions and may be impacted by cellular, clinical, socio-demographic, and psychosocial factors - and, for those with HIV, the virus itself. Women living with HIV exhibit an increased burden of illness and shorter life expectancy compared to their male counterparts, in contrast to what is seen in the HIV negative population. A possible explanation for this is that women with HIV are more likely to have periods of prolonged amenorrhea and may be at increased risk of early menopause, predisposing them to comorbidities that are worsened by low estrogen states. In addition to HIV infection, social stressors like gender-based violence, substance use, and lack of supports increase women's risk for chronic disease and accelerated aging. I will investigate how hormonal abnormalities and social stressors affect health and aging in women living with HIV. METHODS: This study will enroll 700 women with and without HIV in British Columbia. I will collect blood samples, measure anthropometric variables, and ask participants about health diagnoses, reproductive history, and social factors. Markers of cellular aging, hormone levels, number of diseases, and social stressors will be compared between women with and without HIV. To ensure this research is in line with community priorities, women with HIV will be hired as key members of the research team. SIGNIFICANCE: This study has the potential to elucidate how HIV infection, hormones, and social conditions contribute to aging in women. This could significantly impact the health care of the 16,000 women with HIV across Canada.