Cognitive impairment in older adults with HIV: A case-control study: A case-control study.

Abstract

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has undergone a paradigm shift with the introduction of antiretroviral therapies (ART), increasing patient life expectancy. However, this advance has been accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI) among older adults. Aim: To establish the relationship between chronic HIV infection and the development of CI in patients over 50 years of age at the Adolfo López Mateos Regional Hospital (HRLALM) of the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers (ISSSTE), Mexico. Methodology: A case-control study was conducted involving 110 patients over the age of 50, with 55 in the case group (HIV+) and 55 in the control group (HIV negative). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to evaluate the presence of CI. Results: The prevalence of CI was higher in the HIV+ group (63.6% vs. 21.8%, p = 0.001), with mean MoCA scores of 24.25 and 26.24 for cases and controls, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) adjusted for the presence of CI in HIV+ patients was 4.84 (95% CI: 2.04-11.45, p < 0.001). Conclusion: HIV infection is significantly associated with cognitive impairment, which is more pronounced in older patients, those with lower education levels, and those with prolonged infection.