BSMS > Research > Global health and Infection > Research areas > CHAIN UKI: Improving Care for HIV and Ageing

CHAIN UKI: Improving Care for HIV and Ageing

CHAIN UKI (Care of HIV and Ageing Implementation Network UK and Ireland) is a dedicated working group focused on optimising care for older people living with HIV and advancing research in the field.

Our mission is to enhance the healthcare outcomes for this population through identifying research priorities, defining effective and collaborative care models, and encouraging implementation of best practices.

Two men looking at a laptop and drinking tea

Who we are

CHAIN UKI brings together a multidisciplinary coalition of healthcare professionals and researchers, from across the UK and Ireland. The membership includes HIV specialists, geriatricians, pharmacists, physiotherapists and HIV nurse practitioners, as well as HIV-focused academics.

Our members are committed to addressing the complex challenges faced by older adults living with HIV, including comorbidities, potential for multi-facetted stigma, and the nuances of geriatric care in the context of HIV. Please find a list of our current members below.

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

Our objectives

Two woman smiling and laughing on an outdoor walk

Improving Care Practices
We strive to enhance the standard of care provided to people ageing with HIV with a goal of developing and disseminating guidance for best practices. Our focus includes holistic approaches that optimise use of multidisciplinary healthcare teams when available and provide alternative pathways when not.
Education
We will produce some specialised resources for healthcare providers to equip them with the skills and knowledge required to deliver optimal care to older adults with HIV. Our educational initiatives are designed to promote awareness and expertise in this specialised field.
Research Advancement
We identify and support progression of current research priorities to understand the multifaceted impacts and identify the most effective care models for ageing people with HIV across the varied care practices available in the UK and Ireland.

Ongoing projects

Two men talking, one holding a dog and another holding a coffee cup

Current care models for older people living with HIV – National Survey
This survey aims to investigate the current care models for older people living with HIV, comparing them to the findings from a similar survey conducted a decade ago. Understanding the evolution of care practices and identifying educational needs are crucial for developing specific guidance on best practices for this population.
Care pathways for people with HIV in residential Care Homes – descriptive research project
This project seeks to understand how different HIV centres approach care for residents in care homes. There is a concern that patients unable to attend clinics may fall through the cracks in the system. By examining current HIV care interactions with care homes, the project aims to identify solid care pathways for this vulnerable group.
Deprescribing with an HIV focus – educational project
Polypharmacy is a significant issue for older people living with HIV, but there is a lack of confidence among healthcare professionals in deprescribing practices. This project is developing webcasts focused on HIV-related deprescribing, along with an easy-to-use toolkit for clinics. This initiative aims to enhance the knowledge and confidence of healthcare providers in managing polypharmacy among older HIV patients.

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

Our members

Professor Jaime H. Vera (Chair)
Consultant Physician and Professor of HIV Medicine at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust and Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton

Dr Kate Alford
Research Fellow in HIV at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton

Clea Tanner
Research Assistant in HIV at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton

Dr Tristan Barber
Consultant in HIV Medicine at Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Associate Professor at the Institute for Global Heath, University College London

Professor Marta Boffito
Consultant Physician and Clinical Director - HIV, Sexual and Gender Health, Dermatology at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London

Dr Daniella Chilton
Consultant in HIV Medicine & Genito-urinary Medicine at Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London

James Cole
Senior Policy, Research & Influencing Manager at National AIDS Trust

Dr Emma Devitt
Consultant in Infectious Diseases at St James’s Hospital, Dublin

Aoife Dillon
Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Gerontology at St James’s Hospital, Dublin

Ali Grant
Highly Specialist Clinical Pharmacist: HIV, Sexual and Reproductive Health at Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London

Laura Hilton
HIV Nurse Consultant at Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust, Essex

Dr Howell T Jones
Consultant Geriatrician and HIV Geriatrician at Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, London

Dr Tom Levett
Honorary Consultant in Elderly Medicine at Royal Sussex County Hospital and Senior Lecturer in Medicine and Frailty at Brighton and Sussex Medical School

Maria Liu
Highly Specialist Clinical Pharmacist: HIV, Sexual and Reproductive Health at Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London

Dr Borja Mora-Peris
Consultant Physician in Sexual Health & HIV Medicine at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College, London

Dr Ben Moshy
IMT2 at Royal Free Hospital, London

Professor David Robinson
Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine at St James’s Hospital, Dublin

Natalie St Clair-Sullivan
Physiotherapist and Research Assistant at King's College London

Professor Alan Winston
Consultant Physician at St. Mary's Hospital and Professor of HIV and Genitourinary Medicine at Imperial College, London

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

Contact us

For any enquiries about CHAIN UKI, suggestions or interest in joining the group please contact Clea Tanner via chain.uki@bsms.ac.uk.

Selected publications

Alford K, Daley S, Banerjee S, Hamlyn E, Trotman D, Vera JH. "A fog that impacts everything": a qualitative study of health-related quality of life in people living with HIV who have cognitive impairment. Qual Life Res. Oct 2022;31(10):3019-3030. doi:10.1007/s11136-022-03150-x
Ates A, Bachnak A, Murateva Y, et al. Results of a Multi-Disciplinary Approach Involving Geriatricians of a Clinic for Older People Living with HIV. AIDS Patient Care and STDs. 04/20 2023;37doi:10.1089/apc.2023.0011
Barber TJ, Crabtree B, Cortes CP, et al. Practical management of complexity in older people with HIV: approaching an international consensus. AIDS Care. 2023/08/03 2023;35(8):1149-1153. doi:10.1080/09540121.2023.2190956
Bristow C, Barber T. Managing frailty in people with human immunodeficiency virus. British Journal of Hospital Medicine. 2022;83(6):1-7. doi:10.12968/hmed.2021.0474
Doctor J, Winston A, Vera JH, et al. Anticholinergic medications associated with falls and frailty in people with HIV. HIV MEDICINE. DEC 2023;24(12):1198-1209. doi:10.1111/hiv.13532
Jones HT, Barber TJ. How do geriatricians feel about managing older people living with HIV? A scoping review. Eur Geriatr Med. Aug 2022;13(4):987-997. doi:10.1007/s41999-022-00642-4
Jones HT, Levett T, Barber TJ. Frailty in people living with HIV: an update. Curr Opin Infect Dis. Feb 1 2022;35(1):21-30. doi:10.1097/qco.0000000000000798
Jones HT, Samji A, Cope N, et al. What problems associated with ageing are seen in a specialist service for older people living with HIV? HIV Med. Mar 2022;23(3):259-267. doi:10.1111/hiv.13193
Kiplagat J, Tran DN, Barber T, et al. How health systems can adapt to a population ageing with HIV and comorbid disease. The Lancet HIV. 2022;9(4):e281-e292. doi:10.1016/S2352-3018(22)00009-1
Levett T, Alford K, Roberts J, Adler Z, Wright J, Vera JH. Evaluation of a Combined HIV and Geriatrics Clinic for Older People Living with HIV: The Silver Clinic in Brighton, UK. Geriatrics (Basel). Oct 19 2020;5(4)doi:10.3390/geriatrics5040081
Levett TJ, Vera JH, Jones CI, et al. A cross-sectional assessment of frailty, falls and perceptions of ageing in people living with HIV using an mHealth platform. HIV Med. Apr 2023;24(4):431-441. doi:10.1111/hiv.13409
Morris R, Alford K, Vera JH. How are HIV services in the UK currently identifying and managing patients with cognitive impairment? Results of a national survey. HIV Med. Aug 2023;24(8):946-952. doi:10.1111/hiv.13494
Moschopoulos CD, Alford K, Antoniadou A, Vera JH. Cognitive impairment in people living with HIV: mechanisms, controversies, and future perspectives. Trends Mol Med. Jul 1 2024;doi:10.1016/j.molmed.2024.06.005
St Clair-Sullivan N, Bristowe K, Adler Z, et al. Silver Clinic: protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial of comprehensive geriatric assessment for people living with HIV and frailty. BMJ Open. 2023;13(5):e070590. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070590
St Clair-Sullivan N, Bristowe K, Khan I, et al. Implementation of frailty screening for older people living with HIV in Brighton, UK. HIV Med. Apr 2024;25(4):484-490. doi:10.1111/hiv.13598
St Clair-Sullivan N, Simmons K, Harding R, et al. Frailty and frailty screening: A qualitative study to elicit perspectives of people living with HIV and their healthcare professionals. HIV Medicine. 2023;24(4):480-490. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/hiv.13419
St Clair-Sullivan N, Vera JH, Maddocks M, et al. ‘We are fragile, but we are strong’: A qualitative study of perspectives, experiences and priority outcomes for people living with HIV and frailty. HIV Medicine. 2024;n/a(n/a)doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/hiv.13722
Varadarajan M, Blackburn S, Girometti N, et al. Implementation of a multidisciplinary approach to care for people with HIV aged 80 years and over. International Journal of STD & AIDS. 09/30 2024;doi:10.1177/09564624241286558