INTEGRATED HIV/HTN Project:

Leveraging the HIV Platform for Hypertension control in Uganda.


About us:

INTEGRATED HIV/HTN (Leveraging the HIV Platform for Hypertension Control in Uganda) is a five-year project funded by the Second European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2) Grant Number: CSA2018HS-2518 to test the effectiveness of an integrated HIV/HTN care model in 26 districts in south western Uganda. This project is implemented by a consortium led by the Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration (IDRC) in collaboration with, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI), the Ministry of Health Uganda (MoH) and Makerere University.

There is a high burden of hypertension among HIV and non-HIV-infected people in Uganda ranging from 15-30% and yet capacity to diagnose, treat and prevent hypertension (HTN) remains sub-optimal. The double jeopardy of HIV and hypertension likely increases the risk of complications such as stroke, coronary artery disease and kidney failure. Less than 5% of people with hypertension are thought to receive regular care thus increasing access to care will require its integration into primary health care and HIV clinics thus reducing co-occurring hypertension related morbidity and mortality

What we do:

The project will evaluate the effectiveness of the integrated HIV and HTN care model in selected districts and health facilities in South Western Uganda. It aims at increasing awareness on hypertension, improving hypertension control and improved quality of life for HIV patients and non-infected populations in an integrated manner and ultimately contribute to reduction of the overall prevalence of hypertension in Uganda.
The project seeks to:

  1. Determine the effectiveness of the integrated HIV/HTN care model on HTN screening, HTN control and dual HIV/HTN control in the HIV clinics;
  2. To assess the barriers and facilitators of the integrated HIV/HTN care model among National Disease Control Programs, middle-level health district managers, clinic-level PHC leaders, providers, and patients; and
  3. Determine the cost, cost effectiveness and incremental gain costs of the integrated HIV/Hypertension care model approach.


Where we work:

The project is implemented in health facilities in 26 Districts in western and South - Western Uganda.