Prevalence and Predictors of Neurocognitive Impairment, Fatigue, and Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with HIV/AIDS.

BACKGROUND

People living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) are known to have decreased quality of life (QoL), increased fatigue, and neurocognitive dysfunction. In India, the prevalence and predictors of the same are not explored. We aim to determine the prevalence and predictors of neurocognitive impairment (NCI), fatigue, and health-related QoL among PLHIV in India.

SETTING

The study was conducted among people attending an antiretroviral therapy center in a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi after ethical approval.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We enrolled consented patients and used the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) scale, and 36-item Short Form (SF-36) survey to assess NCI, fatigue, and health-related QoL (HRQoL), respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 100 PLHIV with a mean age of 42.0 ± 9.6 years were enrolled, with 48% females. 47 patients (47%) had NCI with a MoCA score <26. Male gender, PLHIV with <5 years of treatment, and <50 years of age had higher MoCA scores. MoCA scores had a negative correlation with age and MAF scores and a positive correlation with SF-36 scores. 55 patients (55%) suffered from fatigue, with lesser fatigue scores for males. Fatigue scores had a negative correlation with SF-36 scores. 71 patients (71%) had total SF-36 scores >50 with males having higher scores. Fatigue had a negative correlation on QoL, r = -0.831.

CONCLUSION

In India, the prevalence of NCI, fatigue, and decreased QoL is higher compared to other populations. Management strategies in HIV require interventions to improve NCI, fatigue, and QoL along with antiretroviral therapy.