J Gen Intern Med. 2026 May 4. doi: 10.1007/s11606-026-10482-8. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: People living with HIV (PLWH) experience higher atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and events than people living without HIV.
OBJECTIVE: We evaluated a multilevel strategy, "Million Hearts," based on appropriate daily low-dose aspirin (A) use, blood pressure management (B), cholesterol (C) reduction with a statin, and smoking (S) cessation ("ABCS") on estimated 10-year ASCVD risk among PLWH.
DESIGN: Stepped-wedge cluster randomized clinical trial (SW-CRCT) involved nine practices caring for PLWH between 2019 and 2022.
PARTICIPANTS: Within participating sites of randomized wedges, we consented and enrolled 485 PLWH ages 40-75 with a 10-year baseline ASCVD risk ≥ 5% clustered within their consented treating clinician.
INTERVENTION: Patient-directed interventions included (1) patient coaching on ASCVD risk and patient goal-setting selection of ABCS and (2) automated bidirectional texting to reinforce selected ABCS. Clinician-directed interventions included (1) academic detailing on ABCS and (2) feedback on patient risk and ABCS adoption.
MAIN MEASURES: Ten-year ASCVD risk (primary outcome) and HIV viral load suppression (primary safety outcome).
KEY RESULTS: The intervention spanned the time of peak COVID-19 closures and reduced access for many health systems, and delayed intervention startup. While analysis based on the initially assigned start dates revealed no statistically significant effect on ASCVD risk, analysis based on actual start dates resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic showed a statistically significant reduction in ASCVD risk of -0.47 (95% CI -0.93 to -0.01) without evidence of any worsening of viral suppression (p = 0.6). This effect was driven by statistically significant reductions in cholesterol and smoking.
CONCLUSION: While delayed by COVID, the multicomponent intervention delivered based on actual start dates yielded statistically significant reductions in ASCVD risk among PLWH without increasing detectable viral load.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05488795; April 1, 2019.
PMID:42082850 | DOI:10.1007/s11606-026-10482-8