# HIV Clinic-based Screening for Geriatric Syndromes in Older Adults with HIV

> **NIH NIH K23** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $162,998

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY AND ABSTRACT
Older persons with HIV (PWH) experience more comorbidities and are at increased risk for geriatric syndromes
at relatively younger ages than their peers without HIV. However, identification and management of geriatric
syndromes in PWH remains a clinical challenge in HIV care. The frequency of geriatrics assessment as part of
routine HIV care for older PWH has not been reported. Furthermore, no studies to date have rigorously evaluated
implementation of such assessments integrated in clinics dedicated to the care of PWH (HIV clinics). To address
this gap in clinical care, we will use implementation research and user-centered design to implement and
evaluate an HIV clinic-based screening intervention for 2 key geriatric syndromes in this population, cognitive
and physical function impairment. The Northwestern Medicine Infectious Disease Center (NM-IDC) provides
care annually to over 1,500 PWH, approximately half of whom are aged 50 years old or older. NM-IDC clinic
staff will be trained to administer evidence-based screening assessments of cognitive and physical function and
will be educated on appropriate follow-up care for all PWH aged 50 years old or older who receive continuity
care in the clinic. Specifically, we aim to: 1) utilize user-centered design to select implementation strategies for
the screening intervention and process with key stakeholders, 2) evaluate the implementation outcomes of the
screening and care pathway protocol for physical function impairment and memory loss among older PWH, and
3) identify contextual factors associated with variability in implementation outcomes among patients, providers,
and other clinic staff. With co-mentorship from an interdisciplinary team of researchers, Mary Clare Masters,
MD/MSCI, seeks to build upon her previous clinical research experience at the intersection of HIV and aging.
Dr. Masters will receive training in implementation science, qualitative and mixed research methods, participatory
research with a focus on inclusion of vulnerable populations (particularly older adults who have cognitive or
physical function impairment) and addressing social determinants of health, and advanced leadership skills. Her
long-term research goal is to become an independent investigator focused on implementing scalable and
sustainable interventions to reduce functional and cognitive impairment and promote resilience among older
PWH. The integrated research infrastructure at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine will
facilitate achievement of her academic goals. Future research directions include evaluating this intervention’s
impact on clinical outcomes and retention in appropriate care and its scale-up to additional sites. These data are
essential to inform the most appropriate strategies for sustaining and expanding HIV geriatric programs in the
future.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10761940
- **Project number:** 1K23AG082543-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Mary Clare Masters
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $162,998
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10761940

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10761940, HIV Clinic-based Screening for Geriatric Syndromes in Older Adults with HIV (1K23AG082543-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10761940. Licensed CC0.

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