title: Cohort Profile: HAART Observational Medical Evaluation and Research (HOMER) cohort.
abstract: Since 1986, antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been available free of charge to individuals living with HIV in British Columbia (BC), Canada, through the BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) Drug Treatment Program (DTP). The Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) Observational Medical Evaluation and Research (HOMER) cohort was established in 1996 to maintain a prospective record of clinical measurements and medication profiles of a subset of DTP participants initiating HAART in BC. This unique cohort provides a comprehensive data source to investigate mortality, prognostic factors and treatment response among people living with HIV in BC from the inception of HAART. Currently over 5000 individuals are enrolled in the HOMER cohort. Data captured include socio-demographic characteristics (e.g. sex, age, ethnicity, health authority), clinical variables (e.g. CD4 cell count, plasma HIV viral load, AIDS-defining illness, hepatitis C co-infection, mortality) and treatment variables (e.g. HAART regimens, date of treatment initiation, treatment interruptions, adherence data, resistance testing). Research findings from the HOMER cohort have featured in numerous high-impact peer-reviewed journals. The HOMER cohort collaborates with other HIV cohorts on both national and international scales to answer complex HIV-specific research questions, and welcomes input from external investigators regarding potential research proposals or future collaborations. For further information please contact the principal investigator, Dr Robert Hogg (robert_hogg@sfu.ca).
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cescon
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Hasina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Samji
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Zishan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Benita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lepik
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Viviane D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Bohdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nosyk
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: P Richard
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Harrigan
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Julio S G
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Montaner
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada and Division of AIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada robert_hogg@sfu.ca.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hogg
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001955:British Columbia; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D060085:Coinfection; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Canada; HIV; cohort studies; database; highly active antiretroviral therapy