The association between depressive symptoms and neurocognitive impairment in people with well-treated HIV in Switzerland

Cognitive impairment and neurocognitive profiles among people living with HIV and HIV-negative individuals older over 50 years: a comparison of IHDS, MMSE and MoCA

We aimed to examine the l differences in the assessment of neurocognitive impairment (NCI) using cognitive screening tools between PLWH and HIV-negative individuals and further compare the neurocognitive profiles between the two groups. This was baseline evaluation of Pudong HIV Aging Cohort, including 465 people living with HIV (PLWH) and 465 HIV-negative individuals aged over 50 years matched by age (± 3 years), sex and education. NCI was assessed using the Chinese version of Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) and Beijing version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). In total, 258 (55.5%), 91 (19.6%), 273 (58.7%) of PLWH were classified as having NCI by the IHDS, MMSE and MoCA, compared to 90 (19.4%), 25 (5.4%), 135 (29.0%) of HIV-negative individuals, respectively (p < 0.05); such associations remained significant in multivariable analysis. PLWH showed a larger overlap of NCI detected by IHDS, MMSE, and MoCA. IHDS and MoCA detected almost all of the NCI detected by MMSE. IHDS-motor and psychomotor speeds and MoCA-executive function showed the greatest disparities between two groups. In multivariable analysis, older age and more depressive symptoms were positively associated with NCI regardless of the screening tools or HIV serostatus. PLWH over 50 years old display a higher prevalence of NCI and distinct neurocognitive profiles compared to HIV-negative individuals, despite viral suppression. Given the more considerable overlap in NCI classification in PLWH, it is advisable to choose one screening tool such as IHDS or MoCA to identify those potentially having NCI and then refer to more comprehensive neuropsychological assessment.

One for all, all for one: neuro-HIV multidisciplinary platform for the assessment and management of neurocognitive complaints in people living with HIV

BACKGROUND

With ageing, comorbidities such as neurocognitive impairment increase among people living with HIV (PLWH). However, addressing its multifactorial nature is time-consuming and logistically demanding. We developed a neuro-HIV clinic able to assess these complaints in 8 h using a multidisciplinary approach.

METHODS

People living with HIV with neurocognitive complaints were referred from outpatient clinics to Lausanne University Hospital. Over 8 h participants underwent formal infectious disease, neurological, neuropsychological and psychiatric evaluations, with opt-out magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and lumbar puncture. A multidisciplinary panel discussion was performed afterwards, with a final report weighing all findings being produced.

RESULTS

Between 2011 and 2019, a total of 185 PLWH (median age 54 years) were evaluated. Of these, 37 (27%) had HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment, but they were mainly asymptomatic (24/37, 64.9%). Most participants had non-HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (NHNCI), and depression was prevalent across all participants (102/185, 79.5%). Executive function was the principal neurocognitive domain affected among both groups (75.5% and 83.8% of participants impaired, respectively). Polyneuropathy was found in 29 (15.7%) participants. Abnormalities in MRI were found in 45/167 participants (26.9%), being more common among NHNCI (35, 77.8%), and HIV-1 RNA viral escape was detected in 16/142 participants (11.2%). Plasma HIV-RNA was detectable in 18.4% out of 185 participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitive complaints remain an important problem among PLWH. Individual assessment from a general practitioner or HIV specialist is not enough. Our observations show the many layers of HIV management and suggest that a multidisciplinary approach could be helpful in determining non-HIV causes of NCI. A 1-day evaluation system is beneficial for both participants and referring physicians.

Anticholinergic and sedative medications are associated with neurocognitive performance of well-treated people living with HIV

Background

We previously showed that anticholinergic (ACH) medications contribute to self-reported neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in elderly people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH). The current cross-sectional study further evaluated the effect of ACH and sedative drugs on neurocognitive function in PWH who underwent comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation.

Methods

A medication review was performed in PWH enrolled in the prospective Neurocognitive Assessment in Metabolic and Aging Cohort within the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. Neurocognitive functions were analyzed in 5 domains (motor skills, speed of information, attention/working memory, executive functions, and verbal learning memory). The effect of ACH and sedative medications on neurocognitive functioning was evaluated using linear regression models for the continuous (mean z-score) outcome and multivariable logistic regression models for the binary (presence/absence) outcome.

Results

A total of 963 PWH (80% male, 92% Caucasian, 96% virologically suppressed, median age 52) were included. Fourteen percent of participants were prescribed ≥1 ACH medication and 9% were prescribed ≥1 sedative medication. Overall, 40% of participants had NCI. Sedative medication use was associated with impaired attention/verbal learning and ACH medication use with motor skills deficits both in the continuous (mean z-score difference −0.26 to −0.14, P < .001 and P = .06) and binary (odds ratio [OR], ≥1.67; P < .05) models. Their combined use was associated with deficits in overall neurocognitive functions in both models (mean z-score difference −0.12, P = .002 and OR = 1.54, P = .03). These associations were unchanged in a subgroup analysis of participants without depression (n = 824).

Conclusions

Anticholinergic and sedative medications contribute to NCI. Clinicians need to consider these drugs when assessing NCI in PWH.

Anticholinergic medication use in elderly people living with HIV and self-reported neurocognitive impairment: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Anticholinergic (ACH) medications have been associated with neurocognitive impairment, particularly in the elderly. This study determined prospectively the prevalence of prescribed ACH medications and their association with self-reported neurocognitive impairment (SRNI) in elderly people living with HIV (PLWH) of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS).

METHODS

A literature review was performed to identify ACH medications, which were scored 0 to 3 (higher score indicating more ACH burden). Prescriptions were reviewed in July 2019 for all SHCS participants ≥65 years old to assess the prevalence of ACH medications. Association between ACH burden and neurocognitive impairment was evaluated using the SHCS SRNI questions addressing memory loss, attention difficulties and slowing in reasoning.

RESULTS

One thousand and nineteen PLWH (82% male) with a median age of 70 (IQR = 67-74) years were included. Most participants were on ART (99%). The average number of non-HIV drugs was 5.1 ± 3.6, representing a polypharmacy prevalence of 50%. Two hundred participants (20%) were on ≥1 ACH medication, with an average ACH score of 1.7 ± 1.3. SRNI, adjusted for age, sex, CD4, nadir CD4, viral load, efavirenz use and polypharmacy, was associated with depression (OR = 4.60; 95% CI = 2.62-8.09) and a trend was observed with being on ≥1 ACH medication (OR = 1.69; 95% CI = 0.97-2.95). In a subgroup analysis of participants without depression (n = 911), SRNI was associated with the use of ≥1 ACH medication (OR = 2.51; 95% CI = 1.31-4.80).

CONCLUSIONS

ACH medication use is common in elderly PLWH and contributes to SRNI. The effect of ACH medications on neurocognitive impairment warrants further evaluation using neurocognitive tests.