Leveraging existing HIV differentiated service delivery models to screen and treat hypertension in Ugandan persons living with HIV for dual control

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The overall goal of the proposed Emerging Global Leader Award is to support Dr. Martin Muddu’s research training to develop as an independent implementation science investigator in HIV and hypertension. Dr. Muddu is a research scientist at the Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration (IDRC) in Kampala, Uganda. He proposes to conduct an implementation science study to integrate HTN screening and treatment into community-based, patient-centered models of HIV care known as “differentiated service delivery.” Accomplishing the proposed study in this application will facilitate his training goals to: 1) gain mastery of mixed methods implementation science research; 2) acquire expertise in design and analysis of quasi- experimental studies; and 3) develop skills in leadership, grant and manuscript writing, and mentoring of junior investigators. This proposal builds on the skills he already has in HIV and hypertension clinical medicine and methods of observational studies. He will leverage an interdisciplinary team of mentors and advisors with expertise in his area of study to become a productive independent researcher. Hypertension affects nearly one-third of Ugandan PLHIV, a large proportion of whom are undiagnosed and untreated. The World Health Organization HEARTS package is an evidence-based strategy for HTN management, which we propose to adapt, integrate, and implement into community HIV differentiated service delivery models using rigorous implementation science methods. This will form the integrated hypertension-HIV differentiated service delivery model. We will then evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the integrated hypertension-HIV differentiated service delivery model regarding hypertension control in PLHIV. If implemented, this project will generate evidence to inform guidelines for integration of HTN management into patient centered community models of HIV care in Uganda and beyond.