Lung Health and the Microbiome Among Adults in Botswana: the Go-hema Cohort

To address the knowledge gap, the investigator propose a prospective cohort study to phenotype patterns of abnormal lung function and use multi-omics to identify associations between host-microbiome interactions, COPD, and lung function loss among adults with and without HIV in Botswana. The findings of this study will improve understanding of respiratory health and determinants of COPD among Batswana adults and contribute to the equitable development of novel COPD therapies by generating data from a population overrepresented in global COPD mortality but underrepresented in current COPD and microbiome research.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. COPD affects nearly 300 million people globally and is the third leading cause of death.Despite advances in tobacco control programs, the prevalence of COPD is projected to increase as the global population ages, pneumonia incidence increases, and exposure to high levels of particulate air pollution persists. Additionally, COPD is a heterogenous disease with multiple partially understood phenotypes that exhibit varying responses to current therapies.Consequently, efforts to reduce incident COPD and COPD-associated mortality are complicated by challenges in reducing exposure to risk factors and an incomplete understanding of disease pathophysiology.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults 35 years of age or older
• In case at a clinic in Botswana
• Documented HIV status
• Ability to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Respiratory infection in the prior 4 weeks
• Active pulmonary tuberculosis
• Inability to perform spirometry including eye, abdominal, or
• Thoracic surgery or myocardial infarction in the prior 6 weeks
• Pregnancy