INTEGRATE-RX: Integrating Clinical Pharmacists in HIV Care to Mitigate Last-Mile Challenges and Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Burden

Overview

The risk of heart attacks and stroke is two times higher among people living with HIV (PLWH), as compared to the general population. Prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, are important in the overall management and CVD risk reduction among PLWH. Clinical pharmacists and their involvement in HIV care through comprehensive medication management have lead to improved medication adherence, undetectable HIV viral load, and continuity in care among PLWH. In addition, when pharmacists work with other health providers, they can also improve access to medications and management of major CVD risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. However, evaluation of the effectiveness, economic impact, and scalability of pharmacist-led interventions in combined HIV and CVD care in sub-Saharan Africa, where the burden of both HIV and CVD risk factors is high, are still understudied. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a pharmacist-led implementation strategy to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease in PLWH. The investigators hypothesize that a pharmacist-led intervention (INTEGRATE-RX) which includes - (1) integration of clinical pharmacists for CVD medication initiation and continuation, (2) pharmacist-coordinated access to CVD essential medicines, and (3) pharmacist-coordinated peer support for medication delivery and psychosocial counseling - will be clinically effective and cost-effective in improving CVD outcomes amongst PLWH.

Aim 1 will design a pharmacist-led HIV/CVD integrated care implementation strategy in western Kenya. Using a human-centered design approach, the investigators will refine a pharmacist-led multicomponent cardiovascular risk reduction intervention to enhance HIV/CVD care. The investigators will evaluate the acceptability and appropriateness of the implementation strategy amongst patients, pharmacists, physicians, other providers, peers, and administrators. Aim 2 will evaluate the clinical effectiveness by conducting an implementation hybrid type 2 stepped-wedge clustered randomized controlled trial comparing: INTEGRATE-RX implementation strategy and Usual Care. The primary clinical outcome will be one-year change in systolic blood pressure (SBP). The primary adherence outcome will be medication adherence. The primary implementation outcome will be fidelity. Secondary outcomes will include change in viral load, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), patient-reported quality of life, and RE-AIM metrics. Aim 3 will estimate the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of INTEGRATE-RX in terms of cost per patient with controlled hypertension and per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) saved. To assess the financial impact of adopting this high-value intervention, the investigators will estimate the incremental cost per unit reduction in SBP and per DALY saved, compared to Usual Care. The investigators will model the budget impact of increasing intervention coverage to 50% of the eligible population by 2030 to promote wider county-level adoption. This research is conducted by a transdisciplinary team of research investigators with diverse and complementary expertise. Data generated from this study will provide important policy guidance for countries trying to address the growing burden of CVD and CVD risk factors amongst the adult and aging population living with HIV. In addition, this study contributes rigorous evidence on the roles and effectiveness of clinical pharmacists in integrated communicable and non-communicable chronic disease management in sub-Saharan Africa and other resource-constraint settings in the US and globally.