Enhancing patient and organizational readiness for cardiovascular risk reduction among black and Latinx patients living with HIV: Study protocol

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV (PLWH) now that HIV is a manageable chronic disease. Identification and treatment of comorbid medical conditions for PLWH, including CVD and its risk factors, typically lack a critical component of care: integrated care for histories of trauma. Experiences of trauma are associated with increased HIV infection, CVD risk, inconsistent treatment adherence, and poor CVD outcomes. To address this deficit among those at greatest risk and disproportionately affected by HIV and trauma—i.e., Black and Latinx individuals—a novel culturally-congruent, evidence-informed care model, “Healing our Hearts, Minds and Bodies” (HHMB), has been designed to address patients' trauma histories and barriers to care, and to prepare patients to engage in CVD risk reduction. Further, in recognition of the need to ensure that PLWH receive guideline-concordant cardiovascular care, implementation strategies have been identified that prepare providers and clinics to address CVD risk among their Black and Latinx PLWH. The focus of this paper is to describe the hybrid Type 2 effectiveness/implementation study design, the goal of which is to increase both patient and organizational readiness to address trauma and CVD risk among 260 Black and Latinx PLWH recruited from two HIV service organizations in Southern California. This study is expected to produce important information regarding the value of the HHMB intervention and implementation processes and strategies designed for use in implementing HHMB and other evidence-informed programs in diverse, resource-constrained treatment settings, including those that serve patients living in deep poverty. Clinical trials registry: NCT04025463.