Gender Differences in Associations Between Interoceptive Awareness and Heart Disease Prevalence Among Older People With HIV

Background People with HIV (PWH) are more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease (HD) compared to the general population. Objective To better understand psychosocial processes impacting HD among PWH, this study evaluated gender differences in the associations between interoceptive awareness (IA; i.e., self-reported ability to perceive and understand bodily sensations), HD prevalence, and psychological distress. Methods A total of 124 PWH (Mean age=62.8; 26% women; 77% income ≤$40,000; 33% ≤high school education; and mean years since HIV diagnosis=27.0) participated in the cross-sectional observational study. Participants self-reported if they had a diagnosis of HD and completed the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness Version 2 and Patient Health Questionnaire – 2. Results Approximately 36% of men and 23% of women endorsed HD. Women reported higher emotional awareness than men (ΔR 2 = .05). There were significant associations between the interaction of gender X HD diagnosis with not worrying (ΔR 2 = .04) and body trusting (ΔR 2 = .04). HD diagnosis was also positively associated with self-regulation among women (b = 1.52, 95% CI = .0001, 3.04) but not among men (b = .06, 95% CI = -.51, .64). Among women, there was a significant negative indirect effect association between HD diagnosis and depressive symptoms via body trusting (indirect effect: -3.85, 95% CI = -6.17, -1.95). Conclusion This study adds to a growing literature on the utility of mind-body approaches for HD risk reduction, while also demonstrating meaningful gender differences that suggest the need for careful tailoring to precisely intervene on HD risk among PWH.