An interventional study of INTEGRATE-RX in HIV, Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, sponsored by Temple University. Not yet recruiting at 2 sites in Kenya. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-17.
Sponsored by Temple University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Health services research
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.
Exclusion Criteria:
During usual care, patient living with HIV with comorbid hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia do not interact with clinical pharmacists. The usual care phase of the intervention will be delivered by physicians, clinical officers, and nurses, with medications dispensed by pharmaceutical technologists.
INTEGRATE-RX intervention 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.
Behavioral: INTEGRATE-RX
PLWH will be managed by the clinical pharmacist based on the established clinical care protocols that include comprehensive risk reduction strategies that incorporate counselling on diet and lifestyle, screening for, and management of other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including but not limited to dyslipidemia and dysglycemia. The core components of the INTEGRATE-RX strategy will be: 1) integration of clinical pharmacists for CVD medication initiation and maintenance, (2) pharmacist-coordinated access to CVD essential medicines, and (3) pharmacist-coordinated peer support for medication delivery and psychosocial counselling.
Mean change in systolic blood pressure
Mean change in systolic blood pressure from Baseline to Month 6 and Month 12
Time frame: Baseline, Month 6, Month 12
Adherence to medications
Adherence to non-HIV medications using the Voils DOSE-Nonadherence questionnaire (responses are scored on a 5-point Likert scale with 1 = perfectly adherent and 5 = non-adherent) and to HIV medications using the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) Adherence questionnaire (responses are expressed as mean 4-day adherence ratio of 0 through 1 with 1 = perfect adherent and 0 = non-adherent).
Time frame: Baseline, Month 6, Month 12
Implementation fidelity
Level of adherence and consistency to each of the implementation strategy component
Time frame: Baseline, Month 6, and Month 12
Viral load
HIV viral load at baseline and Month 12
Time frame: Baseline and Month 12
Mean change in Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)
Mean change in Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) from Baseline to Month 12
Time frame: Baseline and Month 12
Change in patient-reported Quality of Life (QOL)
Change in patient-reported quality of life using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Questionnaire in HIV population (WHOQOL-HIV BREF). The questionnaire items are grouped into six domains, with each domain rated on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1 indicates low quality of life and 5 indicates a positive high quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline and Month 12
Reach (RE-AIM)
Number of enrolled participants as a proportion of eligible individuals; Representativeness of participants
Time frame: Baseline
Implementation (RE-AIM)
Adaptations made to the implementation strategy, patient satisfaction, cost-effectiveness analysis, budget impact analysis
Time frame: Up to 12 months
Adoption (RE-AIM)
Proportion of clinics who agree to implement; Proportion of health facilities that implement INTEGRATE RX
Time frame: Baseline and Month 12
Maintenance (RE-AIM)
Continuity of intervention during the follow-up period
Time frame: 6 months after the intervention completion period
Plan to share: Yes — Quantitative and qualitative data will be shared in the form of de-identified data sets. The de-identified participant data from the final research datasets used in the published manuscript will be shared upon reasonable request beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication, or as required by a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research. All shared data must abide by a data use agreement that is fully executed between the requesting research investigator with Temple University. Requests of data use proposals may be directed to: Tran.nk.tina@temple.edu. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be made available on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or as a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap
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