How sleep apnea and HIV affect heart rhythm stability
Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and HIV on Ventricular Repolarization Lability
This work looks at whether obstructive sleep apnea makes the heart's electrical recovery less stable in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260205 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, the team will use surface ECG measurements to track beat-to-beat changes in the heart's repolarization, called the QT variability index (QTVI). They will compare people with HIV who have obstructive sleep apnea to those without sleep apnea using data from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study and additional sleep and heart monitoring. Some participants may have overnight sleep studies (polysomnography) and continuous ECG monitoring to see how breathing pauses during sleep affect cardiac electrical stability. The researchers aim to link sleep-disordered breathing to increased risk markers for dangerous heart rhythms in people living with HIV.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV—especially those with symptoms of sleep apnea or known OSA—who can undergo sleep testing and ECG monitoring would be most suitable.
Not a fit: People without HIV or without sleep-disordered breathing, and those whose heart rhythm problems stem from other clear causes, are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify people with HIV and sleep apnea who are at higher risk of life-threatening heart rhythms so doctors can target monitoring and prevention.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work shows that QTVI predicts arrhythmia risk and small studies link OSA to repolarization changes, but combining HIV, OSA, and QTVI is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Coral Gables, United States
- University of Miami School of Medicine — Coral Gables, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Herrera Aldana, Phabiola Macarena — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Herrera Aldana, Phabiola Macarena
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.