Publications

Brown J.A, Nsakala B.L, Mokhele K, Rakuoane I, Muhairwe J, Urda L, Amstutz A, Tschumi N, Klimkait T, Labhardt N.D. Viral suppression after transition from nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor- to dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy: A prospective cohort study in Lesotho (DO-REAL study). HIV Med. 2022;23(3):287-293. DOI: 10.1111/hiv.13189

González Fernández L, Firima E, Robinson E, Ursprung F, Huber J, Amstutz A, Gupta R, Gerber F, Mokhohlane J, Lejone T, Ayakaka I, Xu H, Labhardt N.D. Community-based care models for arterial hypertension management in non-pregnant adults in sub-Saharan Africa: a literature scoping review and framework for designing chronic services. BMC Public Health. 2022;22:1126. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13467-4

Gryaznov D, von Niederhäusern B, Speich B, Kasenda B, Ojeda-Ruiz E, Blümle A, Schandelmaier S, Mertz D, Odutayo A, Tomonaga Y, Amstutz A, Pauli-Magnus C, Gloy V, Lohner S, Bischoff K, Wollmann K, Rehner L, Meerpohl J.J, Nordmann A, Klatte K, Ghosh N, Taji Heravi A, Wong J, Chow N, Hong P, McCord-De Iaco K.A, Sricharoenchai S, Busse J.W, Agarwal A, Saccilotto R, Schwenkglenks M, Moffa G, Hemkens L, Hopewell S, Von Elm E, Briel M. Reporting quality of clinical trial protocols: a repeated cross-sectional study about the Adherence to SPIrit recommendations in Switzerland, CAnada and GErmany (ASPIRE-SCAGE). BMJ Open. 2022;12(5):e053417. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053417

Muhairwe J.A, Brown J.A, Motaboli L, Nsakala B.L, Lerotholi M, Amstutz A, Klimkait T, Glass T.R, Labhardt N.D. The suboptimal pediatric HIV viral load cascade: multidistrict cohort study among children taking antiretroviral therapy in Lesotho, Southern Africa. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2022;41(3):e75-e80. DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003415

Scherrer R, Tschumi N, Lejone T.I, Kopo M, Motaboli L, Mothobi B, Amstutz A, Deml M.J, Lerotholi M, Labhardt N.D. eHealth supported multi-months dispensing of antiretroviral therapy: a mixed-methods preference assessment in rural Lesotho. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2022;8:61. DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-01019-x

Speich B, Gryaznov D, Busse J.W, Gloy V.L, Lohner S, Klatte K, Taji Heravi A, Ghosh N, Lee H, Mansouri A, Marian I.R, Saccilotto R, Nury E, Kasenda B, Ojeda-Ruiz E, Schandelmaier S, Tomonaga Y, Amstutz A, Pauli-Magnus C, Bischoff K, Wollmann K, Rehner L, Meerpohl J.J, Nordmann A, Wong J, Chow N, Hong P.J, Mc Cord-De Iaco K, Sricharoenchai S, Agarwal A, Schwenkglenks M, Hemkens L.G, von Elm E, Copsey B, Griessbach A.N, Schönenberger C, Mertz D, Blümle A, von Niederhausern B, Hopewell S, Odutayo A, Briel M. Nonregistration, discontinuation, and nonpublication of randomized trials: A repeated metaresearch analysis. PLoS Med. 2022;19(4):e1003980. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003980

Tschumi N, Lerotholi M, Kopo M, Kao M, Lukau B, Nsakala B, Chejane N, Motaboli L, Lee T, Barnabas R, Shapiro A.E, van Heerden A, Lejone T.I, Amstutz A, Brown J.A, Heitner J, Belus J.M, Chammartin F, Labhardt N.D. Assessment of a viral load result-triggered automated differentiated service delivery model for people taking ART in Lesotho (the VITAL study): Study protocol of a cluster-randomized trial. PLoS One. 2022;17(5):e0268100. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268100

Amstutz A, Lejone T.I, Khesa L, Kopo M, Kao M, Muhairwe J, Bresser M, Räber F, Klimkait T, Battegay M, Glass T.R, Labhardt N.D. Offering ART refill through community health workers versus clinic-based follow-up after home-based same-day ART initiation in rural Lesotho: the VIBRA cluster-randomized clinical trial. PLoS Med. 2021;18(10):e1003839. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003839

Amstutz A, Matsela L, Lejone T.I, Kopo M, Glass T.R, Labhardt N.D. Reaching absent and refusing individuals during home-based HIV testing through self-testing-at what cost?. Front Med. 2021;8:653677. DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.653677

Amstutz A. Supporting Lesotho on the way towards the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets: Operational and clinical research addressing HIV/AIDS care in resource-limited settings. Basel: Univ. Basel, 2021. PhD Thesis, University of Basel, Faculty of Science

Brown J.A, Amstutz A, Nsakala B.L, Seeburg U, Vanobberghen F, Muhairwe J, Klimkait T, Daniel Labhardt N. Extensive drug resistance during low-level HIV viraemia while taking NNRTI-based ART supports lowering the viral load threshold for regimen switch in resource-limited settings: a pre-planned analysis from the SESOTHO trial. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2021;76(5):1294-1298. DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkab025

Firima E, Gonzalez L, Huber J, Belus J.M, Raeber F, Gupta R, Mokhohlane J, Mphunyane M, Amstutz A, Labhardt N.D. Community-based models of care for management of type 2 diabetes mellitus among non-pregnant adults in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol. F1000Res. 2021;10:535. DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.52114.2

Lohner S, Gryaznov D, von Niederhausern B, Speich B, Kasenda B, Ojeda-Ruiz E, Schandelmaier S, Mertz D, Odutayo A, Tomonaga Y, Amstutz A, Pauli-Magnus C, Gloy V, Bischoff K, Wollmann K, Rehner L, Meerpohl J.J, Nordmann A, Klatte K, Ghosh N, Heravi A.T, Wong J, Chow N, Hong P.J, Cord K.M, Sricharoenchai S, Busse J.W, Agarwal A, Saccilotto R, Schwenkglenks M, Moffa G, Hemkens L.G, Hopewell S, von Elm E, Blumle A, Briel M. Reporting quality of trial protocols improved for non-regulated interventions but not regulated interventions: a repeated cross-sectional study. J Clin Epidemiol. 2021;139:340-349. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.05.011

Mapesi H, Gupta R, Wilson H.I, Lukau B, Amstutz A, Lyimo A, Muhairwe J, Senkoro E, Byakuzana T, Mphunyane M, Bresser M, Glass T.R, Lambiris M, Fink G, Gingo W, Battegay M, Paris D.H, Rohacek M, Vanobberghen F, Labhardt N.D, Burkard T, Weisser M. The coArtHA trial—identifying the most effective treatment strategies to control arterial hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2021;22:77. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05023-z

Amstutz A, Brown J.A, Ringera I, Muhairwe J, Lejone T.I, Klimkait T, Glass T.R, Labhardt N.D. Engagement in care, viral suppression, drug resistance and reasons for non-engagement after home-based same-day ART initiation in Lesotho: a two-year follow-up of the CASCADE trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;71(10):2608-2614. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciz1126

Amstutz A, Kopo M, Lejone T.I, Khesa L, Kao M, Muhairwe J, Glass T.R, Labhardt N.D. "If it is left, it becomes easy for me to get tested": use of oral self-tests and community health workers to maximize the potential of home-based HIV testing among adolescents in Lesotho. J Int AIDS Soc. 2020;23(Suppl. 5):e25563. DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25563

Amstutz A, Lejone T.I, Khesa L, Muhairwe J, Bresser M, Vanobberghen F, Kopo M, Kao M, Nsakala B.L, Tlali K, Klimkait T, Battegay M, Labhardt N.D, Glass T.R. Home-based oral self-testing for absent and declining individuals during a door-to-door HIV testing campaign in rural Lesotho (HOSENG): a cluster-randomised trial. Lancet HIV. 2020;7(11):e752-e761. DOI: 10.1016/S2352-3018(20)30233-2

Amstutz A, Nsakala B.L, Cheleboi M, Lejone T.I, Hobbins M.A, Battegay M, Klimkait T, Labhardt N.D. Low rates of active hepatitis B and C infections among adults and children living with HIV and taking antiretroviral therapy: a multicenter screening study in Lesotho. J Med Virol. 2020;92:3857–3861. DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25970

Amstutz A, Nsakala B.L, Vanobberghen F, Muhairwe J, Glass T.R, Namane T, Mpholo T, Battegay M, Klimkait T, Labhardt N.D. Switch to second-line versus continued first-line antiretroviral therapy for patients with low-level HIV-1 viremia: an open-label randomized controlled trial in Lesotho. PLoS Med. 2020;17(9):e1003325. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003325

Brown J.A, Ringera I, Luoga E, Cheleboi M, Kimera N, Muhairwe J, Kayembe B.P, Molapo Hlasoa M, Kabundi L, Yav C.W.D, Mothobi B, Thahane L, Amstutz A, Bachmann N, Mollel G.J, Bresser M, Glass T.R, Paris D.H, Klimkait T, Weisser M, Labhardt N.D. Genotype-Informed Versus Empiric Management Of VirEmia (GIVE MOVE): study protocol of an open-label randomised clinical trial in children and adolescents living with HIV in Lesotho and Tanzania. BMC Infect Dis. 2020;20:773. DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05491-9

Gryaznov D, Odutayo A, von Niederhausern B, Speich B, Kasenda B, Ojeda-Ruiz E, Blumle A, Schandelmaier S, Mertz D, Tomonaga Y, Amstutz A, Pauli-Magnus C, Gloy V, Bischoff K, Wollmann K, Rehner L, Lohner S, Meerpohl J.J, Nordmann A, Klatte K, Ghosh N, Heravi A.T, Wong J, Chow N, Hong P.J, Cord K.M, Sricharoenchai S, Busse J.W, Agarwal A, Saccilotto R, Schwenkglenks M, Moffa G, Hemkens L.G, Hopewell S, von Elm E, Briel M. Rationale and design of repeated cross-sectional studies to evaluate the reporting quality of trial protocols: the Adherence to SPIrit REcommendations (ASPIRE) study and associated projects. Trials. 2020;21:896. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-04808-y

Lejone T.I, Kopo M, Bachmann N, Brown J.A, Glass T.R, Muhairwe J, Matsela T, Scherrer R, Chere L, Namane T, Labhardt N.D, Amstutz A. PEBRA trial - effect of a peer-educator coordinated preference-based ART service delivery model on viral suppression among adolescents and young adults living with HIV: protocol of a cluster-randomized clinical trial in rural Lesotho. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):425. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-08535-6

Amstutz A, Lejone T.I, Khesa L, Muhairwe J, Nsakala B.L, Tlali K, Bresser M, Tediosi F, Kopo M, Kao M, Klimkait T, Battegay M, Glass T.R, Labhardt N.D. VIBRA trial - effect of village-based refill of ART following home-based same-day ART initiation vs clinic-based ART refill on viral suppression among individuals living with HIV: protocol of a cluster-randomized clinical trial in rural Lesotho. Trials. 2019;20:522. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-019-3510-5

Amstutz A, Lejone T.I, Khesa L, Muhairwe J, Nsakala B.L, Tlali K, Bresser M, Vanobberghen F, Kopo M, Kao M, Klimkait T, Battegay M, Labhardt N.D, Glass T.R. The HOSENG trial - effect of the provision of oral self-testing for absent and refusing individuals during a door-to-door HIV-testing campaign on testing coverage: protocol of a cluster-randomized clinical trial in rural Lesotho. Trials. 2019;20:496. DOI: 10.1186/s13063-019-3469-2

Glass T.R, Motaboli L, Nsakala B, Lerotholi M, Vanobberghen F, Amstutz A, Lejone T.I, Muhairwe J, Klimkait T, Labhardt N.D. The viral load monitoring cascade in a resource-limited setting: a prospective multicentre cohort study after introduction of routine viral load monitoring in rural Lesotho. PLoS One. 2019;14(8):e0220337. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220337

Labhardt N.D, Ringera I, Lejone T.I, Amstutz A, Klimkait T, Muhairwe J, Glass T.R. Effect and cost of two successive home visits to increase HIV testing coverage: a prospective study in Lesotho, Southern Africa. BMC Public Health. 2019;19:1441. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7784-z

Speich B, Schur N, Gryaznov D, von Niederhäusern B, Hemkens L.G, Schandelmaier S, Amstutz A, Kasenda B, Pauli-Magnus C, Ojeda-Ruiz E, Tomonaga Y, McCord K, Nordmann A, von Elm E, Briel M, Schwenkglenks M, MARTA and ASPIRE Study Groups. Resource use, costs, and approval times for planning and preparing a randomized clinical trial before and after the implementation of the new Swiss human research legislation. PLoS One. 2019;14(1):e0210669. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210669

Amstutz A, Nsakala B.L, Vanobberghen F, Muhairwe J, Glass T.R, Achieng B, Sepeka M, Tlali K, Sao L, Thin K, Klimkait T, Battegay M, Labhardt N.D. SESOTHO trial ("Switch Either near Suppression Or THOusand") - switch to second-line versus WHO-guided standard of care for unsuppressed patients on first-line ART with viremia below 1000 copies/mL: protocol of a multicenter, parallel-group, open-label, r. BMC Infect Dis. 2018;18:76. DOI: 10.1186/s12879-018-2979-y

Labhardt N.D, Ringera I, Lejone T.I, Klimkait T, Muhairwe J, Amstutz A, Glass T.R. Effect of offering same-day ART vs usual health facility referral during home-based HIV testing on linkage to care and viral suppression among adults with HIV in Lesotho: the CASCADE randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2018;319(11):1103-1112. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2018.1818