Prevalence and predictors of HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorder in Ethiopians

Abstract

Background Modern antiretroviral therapy has extended the life expectancies of people living with HIV; the prevention and treatment of their associated neurocognitive decline has remained a challenge. Consequently, it is desirable to investigate the prevalence and predictors of HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) to help in targeted screening and disease prevention. Methods: Two hundred and forty-four people living with HIV were interviewed in a study using a cross-sectional design and 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 HAND. Results The point prevalence of HAND 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 HAND. Conclusion The identification of predictors, some of which may be more closely related to the Ethiopian people living with HIV, may help in 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) HAND is an asymptomatic condition for considerable durations, and (ii) clinical trials of HAND therapies have been unsuccessful.

Factors Associated with Neurocognitive Impairment in Treatment Experienced HIV+ Adults from a Tertiary Care Center in Ethiopia

“…However, little is known about other potential risk factors of HAND such as, peripheral HIV RNA level and presences of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and dyslipidemia among HIV + individuals (3,4,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). The study objectives of the present study were to investigate association between social determinant of health, behavioral, and cardiovascular risk factors and HIV assocaited cognitive impairments among treatment experienced HIV+ adults at a Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.…”

Dementia in India: An Overview

“…In India, it is estimated that there are currently around 4 million people living with dementia, and this number is expected to increase to around 7.7 million by 2030 (Chowdhary et al, 2021;Parle et al, 2005;Verma & Asopa, 2018). The prevalence of dementia in South Asia was 1.9% in 2005, and in 2020 it was 3.6 million and expected to rise by7.5 million by 2040 (Bhalsing et al, 2013;Ru et al, 2021;Salahuddin et al, 2020). Dementia has a varied incidence rate in India, ranging from 2 per 1000 to 35 per 1000 people, according to epidemiological studies (de Villiers, 1983;Lakshman et al, 2016;Taquet et al, 2022).…”