Preventing cardiovascular disease in midlife women with HIV: An examination of facilitators and barriers to heart health behaviors

Abstract

Midlife women with HIV (WWH) are disproportionately impacted by cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet little is known about perceptions of CVD risk and the factors that influence engagement in heart health behaviors in this population. Few (if any) studies have used a qualitative approach to examine these perceptions, which has important implications for minimizing the negative impact of HIV-related noncommunicable diseases, the risk for which increases after midlife. Eighteen midlife WWH (aged 40–59) in Boston, MA, completed semistructured interviews to explore perceptions of CVD, HIV, and barriers and facilitators to healthy lifestyle behaviors. Interviews were analyzed via thematic analysis. Participants viewed heart health as important but were unaware of HIV-associated CVD risk. Facilitators included family and generational influences, social support, and access to resources. Physical symptoms, menopause, mental health challenges, and limited financial resources were barriers. Midlife WWH may benefit from tailored CVD prevention interventions that target their unique motivations and barriers to healthy behaviors.

Keywords:

• Cardiovascular disease
• heart health
• HIV
• midlife
• women

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the efforts of our participants and thank them for sharing their experiences with us.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no relevant financial or nonfinancial interests to disclose.

Data availability statement

Due to the nature of this research, participants of this study did not agree for their data to be shared publicly, so supporting data are not available.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Harvard University Center for AIDS Research Scholar Award [Parent Award: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, grant number 5P30AI060354-14]; and a T32 training grant supported by the National Institute of Mental Health [5T32MH116140-02]. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.