The study aims to uncover disparities in care, generate real-world evidence to inform treatment decisions, and improve long-term health outcomes for older adults with HIV.

Lead investigators Chintan Dave and Stephanie Shiau emphasize the need for real-world evidence that reflects older adults with HIV who often manage multiple chronic conditions.

The research is backed by the National Institute on Aging, part of the NIH, highlighting an emphasis on aging-related health challenges in the HIV-positive population.

The NIH grant is funded by the National Institute on Aging and is conducted through Rutgers’ Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science and related Rutgers health research institutes.

The study will analyze national Medicare data for more than 45,000 older adults with HIV, supplemented by large Medicaid and private insurance databases to capture diverse patient populations and care settings.

The project will assess chronic disease risks, treatment gaps, and the real-world performance of medications using Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance data.

Rutgers researchers have been awarded a 3.6 million NIH grant to study heart and metabolic health in older adults living with HIV, one of the largest and most comprehensive studies of its kind.

The project seeks to identify risks, treatment gaps, and the safety and effectiveness of commonly prescribed medications for age-related conditions in this population.

The project notes that people with HIV are living longer due to better treatment, but evidence guiding management of age-related conditions in this group lags, especially for those with multiple chronic conditions.

Context also points out that HIV treatment has extended life, yet clinical trials often underrepresent older adults with HIV, contributing to gaps in evidence.