Clinical correlates of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in South Africa

John A. Joska, Dylan S. Fincham, Dan J. Stein, Robert H. Paul, Soraya Seedat

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

82 Scopus citations

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) occurs globally and across different genetic clades of the virus. However, few studies have examined HAND in South Africa, despite the prevalence of HIV in this region of the world, and the predominance of clade C. The present study examined the relationship between a number of demographic and clinical variables in a sample of 536 patients attending HIV clinics in South Africa. HAND was present in 23.5% of the sample and was associated with older age, a low educational level among those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol abuse among those with many months since diagnosis. These results suggest that HAND is common among patients in South Africa, and is associated with clinical variables such as PTSD and alcohol abuse. This underlines the impact of HIV on the nervous system and the importance of screening for co morbid mental health conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)371-378
Number of pages8
JournalAIDS and Behavior
Volume14
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2010
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Eli-Lilly
National Institute of Mental Health
GlaxoSmithKline
Sanofi
National Research Foundation
South African Medical Research Council
Servier
H. Lundbeck A/S

    Keywords

    • Alcohol abuse
    • HIV Dementia Scale (HDS)
    • HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder
    • South Africa

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