PURE COVID-19

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PURE COVID-19

The PURE COVID-19, a sub-study of PURE, is a unique opportunity to document factors that predispose people to SARS-CoV-2 infection in different populations across high, middle and low-income countries.

The sub-study’s objectives are to:

1) Identify individual characteristics associated with higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (both symptomatic and asymptomatic) as measured serologically;
2) Document the late sequelae after symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, and especially restrictive abnormalities in lung function.

PURE COVID-19 can be conducted with a high level of speed and efficiency by leveraging the PURE study, in which 200,000 people have been recruited in more than 1000 communities in 27 countries. Participants have already been characterized in detail prior to 2019. Data were collected on socio-economic factors, living circumstances, cooking fuels (solid versus gas or electricity), diet, social isolation, depression, alcohol and tobacco use, morbidities, physical activity, medications, anthropometrics, blood pressure and handgrip strength. Lung function was measured by spirometry. Also, blood specimens were stored in a central biobank.

In the PURE COVID-19 sub-study, we propose to draw a blood sample from 40,000 people from PURE countries and communities with high infection rates according to local reports. In this way, we will serologically identify participants who have been infected by SARS-CoV-2 (symptomatic and asymptomatic). Data collected during follow-up include vital status, incident heart failure, chronic lung disease, pneumonia, myocardial infarction, stroke and hospitalization. Anthropometrics, blood pressure, handgrip strength and lung function are being re-measured. Follow-up is planned for at least a further 3 years.

We will compare participants with serologic evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure (cases) with participants without exposure (controls) stratified by community to identify independent risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection. We will assess differences between SARS-CoV-2 cases and controls with respect to change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity between baseline and follow-up by using linear mixed effects models to identify possible effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on lung function.

ESC 2021 Presentation - DOWNLOAD PDF

Study Type

Observational

Study Design

Prospective cohort

NO. of Countries

NO. of Sites

NO. of Participants

40,000

Study Period

2020 - 2022

Sponsor

PHRI

Key Team Members

Darryl Leong

Senior Scientist

Darryl Leong

Senior Scientist

Darryl.Leong@phri.ca

Leong’s clinical interests include cardio-oncology, frailty, multi-morbidity, and echocardiography. He is the Director of the McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences Cardio-Oncology Program. Leong graduated from the University of Adelaide Medical School with Deans Listing and Honours for academic excellence in 2000. He completed his cardiology training, Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Public Health, and Master of Biostatistics degrees at the University of Adelaide, Australia. He has completed a fellowship in cardiovascular imaging at the Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands, before relocating to Canada.

Leong is an Associate Professor in the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences. His research is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian Cancer Society, and the United States Department of Defense, among others. He has published approximately 200 manuscripts, including leading publications in the Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine as well as top cardiovascular journals. He is a Clinician Scientist of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and has received the Clive Kearon Mid-Career Award from McMaster University. Additionally, he serves as the Director of the Internal Medicine Resident Research Program and the Cardio-Oncology Program at McMaster University.

Sumathy Rangarajan

Program Director

Sumathy Rangarajan

Program Director

Sumathy.Rangarajan@phri.ca

Sumathy Rangarajan has been Program Director, Global Health, since 2016, preceded by many years’ service at PHRI in other roles. She oversees the PURE study team, as well as the INVICTUS rheumatic AF treatment trial, the CANPWR pediatric weight management registry, and others.

She holds both a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Science degree from Pune University in India.

Maha Mushtaha

Project Manager

Maha Mushtaha

Project Manager

maha.mushtaha@phri.ca

Maha Mushtaha has been employed by the Population Health Research Institute since 2011, working currently in the global health research group on the following studies: PURE, SCHOLAR-2 and TIMING. She has experience with site and database management of large, international observational studies as well as investigator-initiated clinical trials.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from McMaster University and a Biotechnology Diploma from Mohawk College.

Partners

These organizations were involved in this study as: grant providers; funders (including in-kind); national leaders not directly involved in the research team, and other supporters.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

International Development Research Centre (IDRC)