Addressing Barriers to Anti-hypertensive Medication Adherence Among PLWH Who Have Achieved Viral Suppression

Among those with hypertension, persons living with HIV (PWH) have a 50% higher risk of incident myocardial infarction compared to the general population, and they often fail to meet evidence-based treatment goals for hypertension. An important contributing factor for insufficient blood pressure control is non-adherence to antihypertensive medications. Research on medication adherence for PWH has largely focused on antiretroviral therapy adherence with limited focus on adherence to other non-AIDS condition medications.

With a large proportion of PWH in the U.S. achieving viral suppression, providers may now have an opportunity to focus on the management of non-AIDS conditions like hypertension. However, because PWH who have achieved suppression have reduced clinic encounters (once or twice a year) there is potential loss of opportunity to effectively monitor and intensify hypertension treatment as needed an important opportunity to focus on preventing cardiovascular disease. CVD and other non-AIDS comorbidities.

The study's overarching goal is to improve the hypertension outcomes for PWH on suppressive ART to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. In this study, we will identify and evaluate healthcare and patient-level factors that must be addressed in an intervention to increase hypertension medication adherence for PWH who have achieved viral suppression. We will use these factors to tailor an intervention and assess the feasibility and acceptability at the Duke ID clinic.