Prevalence and Correlates of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND) in Northwestern Nigeria

Neurocognitive Impairment and Associated Factors Among People Living with HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of African Studies

Background

Neurocognitive impairment (NCI) is one of the most common neurological complications in HIV-positive individuals, particularly in resource-limited countries. Neurocognitive impairments can occur at any stage of HIV infection, although the risk increases as the infection progresses. However, in Africa, there are few studies with highly variable and inconsistent results. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with NCI among HIV-positive people in Africa.

Methods

For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we used PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and PsycINFO to comprehensively search a number of papers. Studies reporting the prevalence of NCI and its factors were included in the estimation of the pooled prevalence. A consistent data extraction format was created in Microsoft Excel to extract the data, which was then imported into STATA 11 statistical software for analysis. The heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 test, and a random effect meta-analysis model was employed to calculate the pooled prevalence of NCI because the included studies showed significant heterogeneity.

Results

In all, Africa had a pooled prevalence of NCI of 45.15% (95% CI: 36.86, 53.43). According to the subgroup analysis of this study, West Africa had the lowest frequency, at 42.40% (95% CI: 22.03, 62.77), whereas Central and South Africa had the highest prevalence, at 49.33% (95% CI: 10.72-87.95).

Conclusion

In Africa, the cumulative prevalence of NCI was high. Being a woman, not having a formal education, those with only an elementary education, being older, having late-stage HIV, and abusing drugs were all often associated with NCI. The average burden of NCI in Africa is high and that would be a significant figure for interventional actions in the area.

Aerobic exercise for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in individuals on antiretroviral therapy: A randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

The increasing burden of self-limiting forms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) in the antiretroviral therapy era calls for adjunctive interventions. The study aimed to determine the effects of a 12-week aerobic exercise programme on HAND.

METHODS

This is a parallel-group, randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation and intention-to-treat analysis. This study was a clinic-based programme. Seventy-three patients with HAND were enrolled in the trial. The intervention comprised a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, 20-60 min per session, three times per week, for twelve weeks. The control group received exercise education. Prevalence of HAND constituted the primary outcome. HAND was identified and classified following the Frascati criteria. We computed the odds ratio and number needed-to-treat to estimate the treatment effect.

RESULTS

There were 73 patients (38 in exercise and 35 in control arm). Individuals in the exercise arm recorded a significantly higher reduction in working memory deficit (OR = 5.14; CI  =  2.6-10.4; NNT  =  6) but not in attention-deficit (OR = 0.31, CI  =  0.2-0.5; NNT = -5) compared to the control group at twelve-week. Reductions in attention deficit (OR = 1.55, 95 CI  =  1.0-2.4; NNT  =  5) and HAND prevalence (OR = 1.8, 95 CI  =  1.2-2.8); NNT  =  8) were significantly higher in the exercise group compared the control group at three-month. No significant between-group difference in functional independence was observed immediately after exercise (p > 0.05).

DISCUSSION

The neuroprotective effects of aerobic exercise appear selective and vary with cognitive abilities impaired and aerobic capacity, with a greater change occurring with improved aerobic capacity.

CONCLUSION

Individuals with working memory and attention deficits may benefit more from moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.

Aerobic Exercise in HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART), the incidence of HIV-associated dementia has drastically fallen. Despite using ART, people living with HIV continue to experience less severe but limiting forms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). People living with HIV who are on ART and experiencing symptoms of HAND may benefit from aerobic exercise.

Objective

This protocol describes a randomized controlled trial designed to determine the effects of a 12-week aerobic exercise program on HAND in Southeastern Nigeria.

Methods

At least 68 patients diagnosed with HAND will be randomly placed into either an aerobic exercise group or control group. Patients in the aerobic exercise group will perform a moderate intensity workout on a stationary bicycle ergometer, 3 times a week for 12 weeks. We will measure the primary outcomes including neurocognitive performance, prevalence of HAND, viral load, and CD4 count. We will evaluate postexercise neurocognitive performance using reliable neuropsychological tests relevant to people living with HIV, in line with the Frascati criteria. We will assess secondary outcomes such as quality of life, activity limitation, and social participation using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-Brief, and the Oxford Participation and Activities questionnaire. We will use exploratory statistics to test the data for normality and homogeneity. We will analyze the effect of the exercise program on HAND using relative risk (RR) and absolute risk reduction (number needed to treat). Analysis of covariance will be run to estimate the effect of exercise on quality of life and activity and participation level.

Results

This funded trial was approved by the Institutional Review Board in May 2020. The protocol was approved on June 15, 2020. Enrollment commenced in January 2021 and was completed in May 2021. Over 60% of the participants were recruited at the time of first submission to JMIR Mental Health. Data curation is still ongoing; hence, data analysis is yet to be executed. Study outcomes are expected to be published in March 2022.

Conclusions

This is a protocol for a randomized controlled trial that aims to evaluate the effect of a 12-week aerobic exercise program on HAND in Southeastern Nigeria.

Trial Registration

Pan African Clinical Trials Registry PACTR202009483415745; https://tinyurl.com/2p97zpu9

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/29230

Worldwide Occurrence of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders and Its Associated Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders are common in people living with HIV/AIDS and affect the adherence of patients to prescriptions, activities of daily living, and quality of life of patients. However, there is a lack of summative evidence in the area. The present meta-analysis was therefore addressing this gap.

METHODS

We did our electronic search in Psych-Info, EMBASE, Scopus, and PubMed. The retrieved articles were stored with the endnote reference manager and data was extracted using Meta-XL version 5.3. The quality of studies was evaluated with the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). A random-effect model and STATA-16 were used to compute the average estimate of HAND. Heterogeneity was weighed with I² statistics. A sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were employed. The existence/nonexistence of a publication bias was checked with the Eggers test of publication bias.

RESULTS

The average prevalence of HAND was 50.41% (95% CI: 45.56, 55.26). The average estimate of HAND in Europe was found to be 50.015% whereas in Africa, Asia, and the United States of America (USA) it was 49.566, 52.032, and 50.407% respectively. The prevalence of HAND in studies that used the HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) was 36.883% and 59.956% at cutoff points of IHDS <9.5 and IHDS <10 respectively. Besides, the estimated average of HAND with the global dementia scale (GDS) was 40.766%. The prevalence of HAND in cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies was 49.52, 54.087, and 44.45% in that order. Socio-demographic variables; low level of education and older age, clinical and HIV related variables; the advanced stage of the illness and CD4 count of 500 cells/dl or less and psychological variables such as comorbidity of depression increases the risk of HAND.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders was about 50.41%. Low level of education and older age, clinical and HIV related variables such as the advanced stage of the illness and CD4 count of 500 cells/dl or less, and comorbidity of depression were associated with HIV associated neurocognitive disorders. Public health interventions for HIV patients should target these essential problems.

Meta-analysis of factors affecting prevalence estimates of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder in sub-Saharan Africa

Successful treatment of HIV with anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is resulting in more people living with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). In sub-Saharan Africa, this calls for strategic planning and judicious allocation of scarce resources, which requires an accurate estimate of the prevalence of HAND. Estimates of the prevalence of HAND in sub-Saharan Africa vary greatly, between 18.8% and 88.3%. This variability may be explained by factors such as different diagnostic approach, neuromedical examination, ART status, sampling method, substance abuse, assessors’ qualification, depression and outcome measure. Different methods of diagnosing HAND, different outcome measures and non-random sampling techniques make it almost impossible to accurately estimate the prevalence of HAND in sub- Saharan Africa, often resulting in overestimation of the burden of disease. Consumers of health research should consider certain study characteristics and exercise appropriate caution when interpreting burden of disease in sub-Saharan Africa, especially when pursuing policy shift. Underestimating the prevalence of HAND will certainly affect the capacity and speed of containment, while overestimating will draw unnecessary attention and result in the misallocation of scarce resources.

Cognitive Differences between Men and Women with HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Although many studies report that women with HIV (WWH) are more vulnerable to cognitive impairment than men with HIV (MWH), this trend is not described consistently in the literature. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated whether the weight of evidence supports the existence of a significant sex difference in cognitive functioning among people with HIV and, if so, whether specific domains are affected.

METHOD

A systematic literature search retrieved 4,062 unique articles published between January 2000 and June 2019. Eligibility criteria were that studies directly compared adult WWH and MWH using a neuropsychological test battery. After extensive screening, we included 11 studies in the systematic review (N = 3,333) and 6 in the meta-analysis (N = 2,852).

RESULTS

Six studies included in the systematic review found WWH performed significantly more poorly on measures of cognitive performance than MWH; the other five found no sex differences. Meta-analytic results indicated that WWH performed significantly more poorly than MWH in three cognitive domains (psychomotor coordination, visuospatial learning, and memory), but magnitudes of effect sizes were small (d = -.16, -.43, and - .30, respectively). Analyses detected no sex differences in global cognitive functioning and in the other cognitive domains.

CONCLUSIONS

Sex differences in cognitive performance are small, and sociodemographic and psychiatric characteristics of WWH and MWH differ between studies. Cognitive differences between WWH and MWH may be explained by sex-based variation in these characteristics, the impact of which seems to outweigh that of HIV-related clinical variables (e.g., CD4 count and viral load).

HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorders Subsidence Through Citalopram Addition in Anti-retroviral Therapy (HANDS-CARE): A Concept Note

There is a pressing need to effectively manage HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where the burden is among the highest in the world. Contemporary approaches based on the use of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) alone are inadequate interventions for HAND, especially in SSA where there is limited availability of the required combinations of HAART for effective central nervous system penetration and where many currently prescribed agents, including efavirenz, have neurotoxicity as a major drawback. This article reviews data supporting the rationale for additive citalopram in antiretroviral therapy as a latent approach to abate HAND. It proposes the conduct of a HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorders Subsidence through Citalopram addition in Anti-Retroviral therapy (HANDS-CARE) pilot feasibility trial (RCT) to assess whether the adjunctive use of citalopram, a widely prescribed serotonergic antidepressant, will lead to a meaningful improvement in neurocognitive functioning and quality of life in patients with HAND who are receiving HAART. A preliminarily feasible and efficacy-suggesting HANDS-CARE trial could generate statistical, clinical and operational data necessary to design and conduct a future definitive RCT. If successful, this intervention will be applicable to resource-limited settings as well as developed countries. Effective management of HAND will improve the quality of life of HIV patients, and reduce the cost of managing the disease.

Rates of cognitive impairment in a South African cohort of people with HIV: variation by definitional criteria and lack of association with neuroimaging biomarkers

There is wide variation in the reported prevalence of cognitive impairment in people with HIV (PWH). Part of this variation may be attributable to different studies using different methods of combining neuropsychological test scores to classify participants as either cognitively impaired or unimpaired. Our aim was to determine, in a South African cohort of PWH (N = 148), (a) how much variation in reported rates was due to method used to define cognitive impairment and (b) which method correlated best with MRI biomarkers of HIV-related brain pathology. Participants completed detailed neuropsychological assessment and underwent 3 T structural MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We used the neuropsychological data to investigate 20 different methods of determining HIV-associated cognitive impairment. We used the neuroimaging data to obtain volumes for cortical and subcortical grey matter and total white matter and DTI metrics for several white matter tracts. Applying each of the 20 methods to the cognitive dataset resulted in a wide variation (20-97%) in estimated rates of impairment. Logistic regression models showed no method was associated with HIV-related neuroimaging abnormalities as measured by structural volumes or DTI metrics. We conclude that for the population from which this sample was drawn, much of the variation in reported rates of cognitive impairment in PWH is due to the method of classification used, and that none of these methods accurately reflects biological effects of HIV in the brain. We suggest that defining HIV-associated cognitive impairment using neuropsychological test performance only is insufficient; pre-morbid functioning, co-morbidities, cognitive symptoms, and functional impairment should always be considered.

Association between education level and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

In the era of antiretroviral treatment, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is common in HIV-positive (HIV+) patients, with an incidence of 30-50%. The relationship between education level and HAND has been evaluated in some studies, however, the results were inconsistent. The aim of this meta-analysis was to provide compelling evidence on the association between education level and the risk of HAND. Reports were searched for in the databases of Medline, Embase and PsyclNFO. Studies evaluating the relationship between education level and HAND in adult HIV+ patients were included. The pooled odds ratio/risk ratio was analysed by using the random-effects model. Two subgroup analyses were performed according to the adjustment of educational level in the neurocognitive impairment assessment and the income level. In total, 18 studies were included. Six studies and 12 studies reported education level as the continuous variable and categorical variable, respectively. The methods used for the assessment of neurocognitive impairment in included studies were neuropsychological battery tests (n = 10), HIV Dementia Scale (n = 1), the International HIV Dementia Scale (n = 6) and the Chinese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (n = 1). The result showed that the risk of HAND in HIV+ patients who have lower education attainment was significantly higher than that in HIV+ patients who have higher education attainment. In conclusion, this meta-analysis demonstrated that HIV+ patients who have low education attainment carry higher risk of developing HAND compared with HIV+ patients who have high education attainment. This study highlighted the importance of early neurological screening for HIV+ patients who have low education level.

Effect of human immunodeficiency virus on the brain: A review

Thirty million people are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide, and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is one of the most common comorbidities of HIV. However, the effect of HIV on the brain has not been fully investigated. This article aimed to review the changes to the brain due to HIV in terms of atrophy, diffusion changes, and hyperintensities. Studies have observed significant atrophy in subcortical gray matter, as well as in cortical white and gray matter. Moreover, the ventricles enlarge, and the sulci widen. Although HIV causes changes to the white and gray matter of the brain, few diffusion tensor imaging studies have investigated the changes to gray matter integrity. White and gray matter hyperintensities have frequently been observed in HIV-positive individuals, with the subcortical gray matter (caudate nucleus and putamen) and periventricular white matter frequently affected. In conclusion, subcortical gray matter is the first brain region to be affected and is affected most severely. Additionally, this review highlights the gaps in the literature, since the effect of HIV on the brain is not fully known. Future studies should continue to investigate the effect of HIV on the brain in different stages of the disease, and alternate therapies should be developed since highly active antiretroviral therapy is currently ineffective at treating HAND.

HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment in stable people living with HIV on ART in rural Tanzania

OBJECTIVES

Few studies have assessed cognitive impairment among healthy people living with HIV (PLWH) who are stable on antiretroviral treatment (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study among a random sample of stable adult PLWH from rural Tanzania on ART for more than 1 year and without immunological failure or pre-existing neurological disease. We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for neurocognitive impairment (NCI), assessed through neuropsychological tests, functional and depression questionnaires and defined as a mean Z-score ≤ -1 in two or more cognitive domains.

RESULTS

Among 243 participants [median age = 44.3 years (interquartile range: 36-52] and 71% female] we found a rate of NCI of 19.3% (95% confidence interval: 14.8-24.8%). Memory and psychomotor domains demonstrated the highest impairment. Independent predictors of NCI were age and self-reported alcohol use. Other classical risk factors were not associated with HIV-associated NCI.

CONCLUSION

Despite effective ART roll-out, NCI remained a prevalent condition in this healthy rural Tanzanian population of PLWH on ART. Age and alcohol use were key risk factors.

Prevalence and Predictors of Neurocognitive Impairment in Ethiopian Population Living with HIV

BACKGROUND

Modern antiretroviral therapy has extended the life expectancies of people living with HIV; however, the prevention and treatment of their associated neurocognitive decline have remained a challenge. Consequently, it is desirable to investigate the prevalence and predictors of neurocognitive impairment to help in targeted screening and disease prevention.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred and forty-four people living with HIV were interviewed in a study using a cross-sectional design and the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS). Additionally, the sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics of the patients were recorded. Chi-square and binary logistic regression analysis were used to determine the level of significance among the independent risk factors and probable neurocognitive impairment.

RESULTS

The point prevalence of neurocognitive impairment was found to be 39.3%. Participants' characteristics of being older than 40 years (AOR= 2.81 (95% CI; 1.11-7.15)), having a history of recreational drug use (AOR= 13.67 (95% CI; 6.42-29.13)), and being non-compliant with prescribed medications (AOR= 2.99 (95% CI; 1.01-8.87)) were independent risk factors for neurocognitive impairment.

CONCLUSION

The identification of predictors, in the Ethiopian people living with HIV, may help in the targeted screening of vulnerable groups during cART follow-up visits. This may greatly help in strategizing and implementation of the prevention program, more so, because (i) HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment is an asymptomatic condition for considerable durations, and (ii) clinical trials on neurocognitive impairment therapies have been unsuccessful.

Risk factors for symptomatic HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder in adults aged 50 and over attending a HIV clinic in Tanzania

OBJECTIVES

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), although prevalent, remains a poorly researched cause of morbidity particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We aimed to explore the risk factors for HAND in people aged 50 and over under regular follow-up at a government HIV clinic in Tanzania.

METHODS

HIV-positive adults aged 50 years and over were approached for recruitment at a routine HIV clinic appointment over a 4-month period. A diagnostic assessment for HAND was implemented, including a full medical/neurological assessment and a collateral history from a relative. We investigated potential risk factors using a structured questionnaire and by examination of clinic records.

RESULTS

Of the cohort (n = 253), 183 (72.3%) were female and the median age was 57 years. Fifty-five individuals (21.7%) met the criteria for symptomatic HAND. Participants were at a greater risk of having symptomatic HAND if they lived alone [odds ratio (OR) = 2.566, P = .015], were illiterate (OR 3.171, P = .003) or older at the time of HIV diagnosis (OR = 1.057, P = .015). Age was correlated with symptomatic HAND in univariate, but not multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

In this setting, HIV-specific factors, such as nadir CD4 count, were not related to symptomatic HAND. The "legacy theory" of early central nervous system damage prior to initiation of anti-retroviral therapy initiation may contribute, only in part, to a multifactorial aetiology of HAND in older people. Social isolation and illiteracy were associated with symptomatic HAND, suggesting greater cognitive reserve might be protective.

Effects of HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy, and immune status on the speed of information processing and complex motor functions in adult Cameroonians

HIV-associated neurocognitive deficits include impaired speed-of-information processing (SIP) and motor functions. There is lack of Cameroonian adult norms for assessing SIP or motor functions. This study of 683 Cameroonians (320 HIV+, 363 HIV-) establishes demographically-adjusted norms for six SIP [Wechsler-Adult-Intelligence-Scale (WAIS)-III Digit Symbol (WAIS-IIIDS) and Symbol Search (WAIS-IIISS), Stroop Color-Naming, Stroop Word-Reading, Trail-Making Test-A (TMT-A), Color Trails-1 (CTT1)], and two motor function [Grooved Pegboard-dominant (GP-DH) and non-dominant (GP-NDH) hands] tests. We assessed viral effects on SIP and motor functions. HIV-infected persons had significantly lower (worse) T scores on GP-DH, WAIS-IIIDS, Stroop Word-Reading, TMT-A; lower motor and SIP summary T scores. Significantly higher proportion of cases (20.7%) than controls (10.3%) had impaired SIP. Male cases had better T scores than female cases on GP-NDH, WAIS-IIIDS, WAIS-IIISS, TMT-A, CTT1; better SIP summary T scores. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was associated with significantly better T scores on GP-NDH, WAIS-IIIDS, Stroop Color-Naming; better motor and SIP summary T scores. Cases with higher CD4 had better T scores on WAIS-IIIDS, TMT-A, CTT1; better SIP summary T scores. Overall, we demonstrate that HIV infection in Cameroon is associated with deficits in SIP and motor functions; ART and higher CD4 are associated with better cognitive performance. We provide SIP and psychomotor functions normative standards, which will be useful for neurobehavioral studies in Cameroon of diseases affecting the brain.

Frequency and Predictors of HIV-Related Cognitive Impairment in East Africa: The Africa Cohort Study (AFRICOS)

BACKGROUND

Medication adherence is a critical issue in achieving viral suppression targets, particularly in resource-limited countries. As HIV-related cognitive impairment (CI) impacts adherence, we examined frequency and predictors of CI in the African Cohort Study.

SETTING

Cross-sectional examination of enrollment data from President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief supported clinic sites.

METHODS

In a 30-minute cognitive assessment, CI was defined as -1SD on 2 tests or -2SD on one, as compared with 429 controls. We performed univariable and multivariable logistic and linear models examining clinical and demographic factors associated with CI and global neuropsychological performance (NP-6).

RESULTS

Two thousand four hundred seventy-two HIV+ participants from Kenya (n = 1503), Tanzania (n = 469), and Uganda (n = 500). The mean (SD) age was 39.7 (10.7) years, and 1452 (59%) were women. The majority reported completing or partially completing primary school (n = 1584, 64%). Mean (SD) current and nadir CD4 count were 463 (249) and 204 (221) cells/mm, respectively; 1689 (68%) were on combination antiretroviral therapy. Nine hundred thirty-nine (38%) HIV+ versus 113 (26%) HIV- individuals showed CI: (P < 0.001). We found significant effects of literacy [odds ratio (OR): 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.4; P < 0.001] and World Health Organization stage 4 (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0 to 2.q; P = 0.046) on CI. Tanzanians (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 2.4 to 4.3; P < 0.001) and Kenyans (OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.6 to 2.6; P < 0.001) had higher risk of CI compared with Ugandans. Results were relatively unchanged in predictive models of NP-6, with the only difference being an additional significant effect of current CD4 cell count (coeff: 0.0; 95% CI: 0.0 to 0.0; P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Literacy, country, World Health Organization stage, and current CD4 cell count were associated with increased risk of cognitive dysfunction. Our findings help optimize care practices in Africa, illustrating the importance of strategies for early and effective viral-immunological control.

Determining the Neurocognitive Status and the Functional Ability of Patients to Screen for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND)

Background and Purpose

To adequately evaluate the extent of neurocognitive impairment in patient living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV), a battery of neuropsychological tests is typically administered which are neither cost effective nor time efficient in the outpatient clinical setting. The aim of the study was to assess neurocognitive status and functional ability of people living with HIV and find a brief screening tool to identify those who would benefit from a full diagnostic evaluation.

Methods

The study enrolled 160 PLHIV (80 pre-antiretroviral therapy [ART] and 80 on ART) fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Neurocognitive assessment and an assessment of Functional ability was done by using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Lawton and Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale scale, respectively.

Results

The study population consisted of 75.6% males and 24.4% females with mean age of 44±10 years. The overall prevalence of HIV associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) in the study subjects was 52.5%. Of these, 47.5% had asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment and 5% had minor neurocognitive disorder. In MoCA, the most frequently affected domains were Language (97.6%), visuospatial ability (92.9%) and memory (71.4%).

Conclusions

The prevalence of HAND in both groups were similar suggesting that neurocognitive impairment starts early in HIV infection. Memory and Visuospatial function impairment had the most predictive potential for detecting the presence of HAND. HAND screening is recommended in all PLHIV at enrolment into care. Simple tools like MoCA can be used in busy outpatient settings by healthcare workers to screen for HAND.

Prevalence and Correlates of Neurocognitive Disorders among HIV Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy at a Kenyan Hospital

Background

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) represent a spectrum of cognitive abnormalities affecting attention, concentration, learning, memory, executive function, psychomotor speed, and/or dexterity. Our objectives in this analysis are to determine the prevalence of HAND and the covariates in a Kenyan population.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study in a convenient sample of people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) attending routine care visits at the Kenyatta National Hospital HIV clinic between July and August 2015. Baseline demographics were obtained using interviewer-administered questionnaires; clinical data were abstracted from patient records. Trained research clinicians determined the neurocognitive status by administration of the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) scale, and the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale. Cognitive impairment was defined as a score of ≤26 on the MOCA and ≤10 on the IHDS. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression to determine predictors of screening positive for HAND were done with the significance value set at <0.05.

Results

We enrolled 345 participants (202 men; 143 women). The mean age of the study population was 42 years (±standard deviation (SD) 9.5). Mean duration since HIV diagnosis and mean duration on ART were 6.3 (±SD 3.7) and 5.6 years (±SD 3.4), respectively. Median CD4 count at interview was 446 cells/mm³ (interquartile range (IQR) 278–596). Eighty-eight percent of participants screened positive for HAND, of whom 87% had asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (ANI) and minor neurocognitive disorders (MND) grouped together while 1% had HIV-associated dementia (HAD). Patients on AZT/3TC/EFV were 3.7 times more likely to have HAND (OR = 3.7, p=0.03) compared to other HAART regimens. In the adjusted analysis, women were more likely to suffer any form of HAND than men (aOR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.02, 4.71; p=0.045), whereas more years in school and a higher CD4 count (aOR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.38, 0.88; p=0.012), (aOR = 0.998, 95% CI 0.997, 0.999; p=0.013) conferred a lowered risk.

Conclusion

Asymptomatic and mild neurocognitive impairment is prevalent among people living with HIV on treatment. Clinical care for HIV-positive patients should involve regular screening for neurocognitive disorders while prioritizing women and those with low education and/or low CD4 counts.

The HIV Reservoir in Monocytes and Macrophages

In people living with HIV (PLWH) who are failing or unable to access combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), monocytes and macrophages are important drivers of pathogenesis and progression to AIDS. The relevance of the monocyte/macrophage reservoir in PLWH receiving cART is debatable as in vivo evidence for infected cells is limited and suggests the reservoir is small. Macrophages were assumed to have a moderate life span and lack self-renewing potential, but recent discoveries challenge this dogma and suggest a potentially important role of these cells as long-lived HIV reservoirs. This, combined with new HIV infection animal models, has led to a resurgence of interest in monocyte/macrophage reservoirs. Infection of non-human primates with myeloid-tropic SIV implicates monocyte/macrophage activation and infection in the brain with neurocognitive disorders, and infection of myeloid-only humanized mouse models are consistent with the potential of the monocyte/macrophage reservoir to sustain infection and be a source of rebound viremia following cART cessation. An increased resistance to HIV-induced cytopathic effects and a reduced susceptibility to some antiretroviral drugs implies macrophages may be relevant to residual replication under cART and to rebound viremia. With a reappraisal of monocyte circulation dynamics, and the development of techniques to differentiate between self-renewing tissue-resident, and monocyte-derived macrophages in different tissues, a new framework exists to contextualize and evaluate the significance and relevance of the monocyte/macrophage HIV reservoir. In this review, we discuss recent developments in monocyte and macrophage biology and appraise current and emerging techniques to quantify the reservoir. We discuss how this knowledge influences our evaluation of the myeloid HIV reservoir, the implications for HIV pathogenesis in both viremic and virologically-suppressed PLWH and the need to address the myeloid reservoir in future treatment and cure strategies.

Assessment of neurocognitive deficits in people living with HIV in Sub Saharan Africa: A systematic review

Objective: People living with HIV (PLWH) are at risk for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND)/Neurocognitive Impairment (NCI). HIV prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is high, but neuropsychological screening and testing for NCI among HIV-infected individuals is not done frequently. This systematic review aims to establish how NCI among HIV-infected individuals is being assessed in SSA, if and how the tests are adapted, if norms exist and identify personnel who administer them.Method: We searched PubMed, Medline, EBSCO, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Two reviewers screened the articles for inclusion and risk of bias. We included studies from SSA with a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment battery.Results: We retrieved 212 articles and 23 articles met inclusion criteria. The most commonly used tests were the Color Trails Test 1, Color Trails Test 2, and the WAIS III Digit Symbol Test. Some tests were translated into French (Cameroon), Luganda (Uganda), Chichewa (Malawi), isiXhosa (South Africa), and Afrikaans (South Africa). Some verbal learning tests were adapted to reflect culturally appropriate language. Test administrators were either non-specialized personnel supervised by clinical neuropsychologists or clinical psychologists.Conclusion: Overall, the tests used are similar to the tests being used globally to assess NCI among HIV-infected individuals and there is a general consistency across countries. However, there is generally a lack of norms for the tests and the process of adaptation is not always well described. Future research should establish whether these tests measure neuropsychological constructs as successfully as they do in western populations where the tests were developed.

High prevalence of neurocognitive disorders observed among adult people living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Comprehensive care given to people living with HIV/AIDS is improving over time; however, their concurrent cognitive illness is still ignored, under screened and treated particularly in developing countries. And this problem is also striking in Ethiopia. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and associated factors among adult people living with HIV/AIDS.

METHODS

An institution based cross sectional study was conducted from April to May, 2017 at Gamo Gofa zone public Hospitals. International HIV Dementia Scale was used to screen HIV associated neurocognitive disorders. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess predictors of neurocognitive disorders.

RESULT

A total of 684 study participants were included in this study with a response rate of 98%. Among them, 56% were females while 44% were males. The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 38.8±8.8years. The screening prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder was 67.1% (95% CI; 63.6, 70.5). Body mass index 16 kg/m2 (AOR 4.389 (1.603-12.016)), being married (AOR 0.377 (0.213-0.666), unemployment status (AOR 3.181 (1.752-5.777) and being in WHO clinical stage T3 category/advancing stages of the disease (AOR 3.558 (1.406-9.006) were the key predictors of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders among people living with HIV/AIDS.

CONCLUSION

In this study the screening prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder is higher than the earlier reports in Ethiopia and Africa. This indicates that early screening strategies and policies for cognitive health in people living with HIV/AIDS should be given a top priority.

Effects of HIV on executive function and verbal fluency in Cameroon

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are frequently associated with impaired executive function and verbal fluency. Given limited knowledge concerning HAND in Sub-Saharan-Africa and lack of Cameroonian adult neuropsychological (NP) test norms, we administered four executive function [Halstead Category Test (HCT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Color Trails-II (CTT2), and Stroop Color-Word-Interference (SCWT)] and three verbal fluency (Category, Action, and Letter Fluency) tests to 742 adult Cameroonians (395 HIV-, 347 HIV+). We developed demographically-corrected NP test norms and examined the effects of HIV and related variables on subjects' executive function and verbal fluency. HIV+ subjects had significantly lower T-scores on CTT2 (P = 0.005), HCT (P = 0.032), WCST (P < 0.001); lower executive function composite (P = 0.002) and Action Fluency (P = 0.03) T-scores. ART, viremia, and CD4 counts did not affect T-scores. Compared to cases harboring other viral subtypes, subjects harboring HIV-1 CRF02_AG had marginally higher CTT2 T-scores, significantly higher SCWT (P = 0.015) and executive function (P = 0.018) T-scores. Thus, HIV-1 infection in Cameroon is associated with impaired executive function and some aspects of verbal fluency, and viral genotype influenced executive function. We report the first normative data for assessing executive function and verbal fluency in adult Cameroonians and provide regression-based formulas for computing demographically-adjusted T-scores. These norms will be useful for investigating HIV/AIDS and other diseases affecting cognitive functioning in Cameroon.

Neurocognitive and mental health outcomes and association with quality of life among adults living with HIV: a cross-sectional focus on a low-literacy population from coastal Kenya

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to compare the neurocognitive performance and mental health outcome of adults living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy with that of community controls, all of low literacy. Furthermore, we also wanted to explore the relationship of these outcomes with quality of life among adults living with HIV.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study.

SETTING

The study was conducted in Kilifi County, a region located at the Kenyan coast.

PARTICIPANTS

The participants consisted of a consecutive sample of 84 adults living with HIV and 83 randomly selected community controls all with ≤8 years of schooling. All participants were assessed for non-verbal intelligence, verbal working memory and executive functioning. The Major Depression Inventory and a quality of life measure (RAND SF-36) were also administered.

RESULTS

Using analysis of covariance, we found no statistically significant group differences between adults living with HIV and community controls in all the neurocognitive tests except for a marginal difference in the non-verbal intelligence test (F (1, 158)=3.83, p=0.05). However, depressive scores of adults living with HIV were significantly higher than those of controls (F (1, 158)=11.56, p<0.01). Also, quality of life scores of adults living with HIV were significantly lower than those of controls (F (1, 158)=4.62, p=0.03). For the HIV-infected group, results from multivariable linear regression analysis showed that increasing depressive scores were significantly associated with poorer quality of life (β=-1.17, 95% CI -1.55 to -0.80; p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that adults of low-literacy levels living with HIV and on antiretroviral medication at the Kenyan coast do not have significant cognitive deficits compared with their uninfected counterparts. However, their mental health, compared with that of HIV-uninfected adults, remains poorer and their quality of life may deteriorate when HIV and depressive symptoms co-occur.

HIV-associated cognitive performance and psychomotor impairment in a Thai cohort on long-term cART

OBJECTIVES

To assess cognitive performance and psychomotor impairment in an HIV-positive cohort, well-suppressed on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), in an Asian resource-limited setting.

METHODS

Cross-sectional sociodemographic and cognitive data were collected in 329 HIV-positive and 510 HIV-negative participants. Cognitive performance was assessed using the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), WAIS-III Digit Symbol, Trail Making A, and Grooved Pegboard (both hands). Psychomotor test scores in the HIV-positive participants were converted to Z-scores using scores of the HIV-negative participants as normative data. Psychomotor impairment was defined as performance on two tests more than 1 standard deviation (SD) from controls or more than 2 SD on one test. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were used to investigate associations between HIV and non-HIV-related covariates and poorer cognitive performance and psychomotor impairment.

RESULTS

HIV-positive participants, mean age 45 (SD 7.69) years received cART for a median of 12.1 years (interquartile range [IQR] 9.1-14.4). Median CD4 cell count was 563 cells/mm³ (IQR 435-725), and 92.77% had plasma HIV RNA <40 copies/mL. The adjusted mean differences between HIV-positive versus HIV-negative cohorts indicated significantly inferior cognitive performance (tests all P<0.001) with increasing age and lower income, independently associated. Psychomotor impairment was found (P<0.02) in all tests except the Grooved Pegboard non-dominant hand (P=0.48). Psychomotor impairment prevalence was 43% in the HIV-positive cohort, associated with male gender and lower income.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, in individuals with viral suppression rates >90% on long-term cART, we found that inferior cognitive performance and psychomotor impairment were primarily associated with non-HIV-related factors.

Adding a brief self-report cognitive tool to the IHDS improves effectiveness of identifying patients with HIV-associated dementia in South Africa

We compared the diagnostic accuracy of two brief screening tools (the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS), and the IHDS combined with a novel self-report instrument, the HIV Cognitive Symptom Questionnaire (HCSQ)) with that of three brief neuropsychological screening batteries (a 2-, a 3-, and a 4-test battery, each consisting of standardized cognitive tests) in discriminating individuals with HIV-associated dementia (HAD) from those with milder forms of cognitive impairment. We analyzed data from 94 isiXhosa-speaking South African HIV-infected participants who were screened as part of a clinical trial evaluating adjunctive treatment in patients with moderate to severe HIV-associated cognitive impairment. A comprehensive neuropsychological battery diagnosed 53% (50/94) of the participants with HAD. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity for the screening tools and screening batteries. The brief screening tool performed better compared to the brief neuropsychology battery. The IHDS-HCSQ combination delivered 94% sensitivity and 63% specificity for HAD compared to the IHDS (74 and 70% at a cutoff of ≤8) which offers a viable and quick way to screen for HAD in people living with HIV. It is easy to administer, is time- and cost-efficient, and it appears to be a better option, for these purposes, than brief neuropsychology batteries. It is viable for use in clinical, research, and workplace settings when identification of HIV-infected people with severe cognitive impairment is required.

Aging, neurocognitive impairment and adherence to antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals

Background/objective

There is an increasing number of older patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection due to the success of antiretroviral therapy, the improved prognosis and life expectancy of patients, and the higher number of new infections among older individuals. The main objective of the present study was to compare the characteristics of older human immunodeficiency virus patients with those of younger patients.

Materials and methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study with human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients who were treated at the Specialized Care Service (Serviço de Assistência Especializada) for human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS in the city of Pelotas, South Brazil. Sociodemographic information as well as data on human immunodeficiency virus infection and treatment were collected. All participants underwent psychiatric and neurocognitive assessments, and their adherence to antiretroviral therapy was evaluated.

Results

A total of 392 patients participated in the study, with 114 patients aged 50 years and older. The characteristics showing significant differences between older and younger human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients included race/ethnicity, comorbidities, duration and adherence to antiretroviral therapy, currently undetectable viral load, and cognitive impairment. Compared to younger patients, older patients were at higher risk of exhibiting cognitive impairment [OR 2.28 (95% CI: 1.35–3.82, p = 0.002)] and of having increased adherence to antiretroviral therapy [OR 3.11 (95% CI: 1.67–5.79, p < 0.001)].

Conclusions

The prevalence of neurocognitive impairment remained high in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients despite antiretroviral therapy. In the present study, the prevalence of this type of impairment was significantly higher in patients aged ≥50 years, most likely due to aging, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and a possible synergistic effect between these factors. Despite this higher prevalence, older patients exhibited higher rates of adherence to antiretroviral therapy and of undetectable human immunodeficiency virus viral load.