The Australian HIV Observational Database (AHOD) is an observational cohort study of more than 4,000 HIV positive patients in Australia under routine clinical care.  It was established in 1999 to monitor treatment uptake and outcomes.  In 2014 AHOD was expanded to include clinical sites in New Zealand.  Since its inception, AHOD has provided the best available surveillance data on trends in antiretroviral treatment uptake and use in Australia and has a central role in State and Commonwealth Health Departments planning of HIV care.
 
AHOD comprises (n= 31) sites from Australia and New Zealand (n=2), of which RESPOND account for 8 out of the 31 AHOD 

Prior hallmark findings: Over the past 15 years, AHOD has demonstrated incremental improvements in virological response for patients initiated on combination ART.  Most deaths are now non-AIDS related, and data from AHOD has underscored the fact that if CD4+ counts are at a high level, life expectancy approaches that of the general population. Some prior hallmark publications include: 

•    ‘HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV coinfection, and outcomes following highly active antiretroviral therapy’
•    ‘Risk factors and causes of death in the Australian HIV Observational Database’. 
•    ‘The ‘Long-term survival in HIV positive patients with up to 15 years of antiretroviral therapy’ 
•    ‘The providing ‘ Subsidized optimal ART for HIV-positive temporary residents of Australia’  

Primary research focus: Since AHOD’s inception there have been more than 40 peer-reviewed journal articles describing the impact of ART on outcomes in HIV-positive patients.  AHOD has described the changing spectrum of causes of death, and patterns of long term immunological and virological response among treated HIV-positive patients. In addition to these primary objectives are one off sub-studies including a study on the determinants of suicide and accidental or violent deaths; investigating rates of and factors associated with HCV treatment uptake and cure among HIV/HCV co-infected6; and currently, understanding the relationship between factors such as depression and anxiety, frailty, social and sexual functioning and HIV treatment use and response to HIV treatment.

Key RESPOND Staff:   
Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Kathy Petoumenos; key project contact: Professor Matthew Law; Statisticians: Nick Rose and Jolie Hutchinson; Head, Steering Committee AHOD: Associate Professor David Templeton
    
Website: https://kirby.unsw.edu.au/project/ahod