Frequency of and risk factors for HIV dementia in an HIV clinic in sub-Saharan Africa.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the frequency and associated risk factors of HIV dementia in an HIV clinic in Kampala, Uganda.


METHODS
We systematically sampled 78 HIV-seropositive (HIV+) patients from an ambulatory HIV clinic. Participants underwent detailed sociodemographic, medical history, functional, neurologic, and neuropsychological evaluations. One hundred HIV-negative patients were recruited to provide normative data for the neuropsychological tests. A logistic regression model was constructed to determine risk factors associated with the diagnosis of HIV dementia.


RESULTS
Thirty-one percent (24 of 78) of the HIV+ patients had HIV dementia. Advanced age and low CD4(+) T-lymphocyte count (CD4 count) were the only variables identified as significant risk factors in the logistic regression model. Each additional 10 years of age conferred a greater than twofold risk of HIV dementia (OR 2.06, 95% CI: 1.05 to 4.07; p < 0.05). Reduced levels of CD4 count (100 cells/muL decrement) was associated with a 60% increase in the odds of having HIV dementia (OR 1.6, 95% CI: 1.04 to 2.33; p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV dementia is common in HIV-seropositive Ugandan individuals attending an AIDS clinic. It is more frequently associated with patients of advanced age and decreased CD4 count.
Wong
M H
MH
School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. mhw9e@virginia.edu
Robertson
K
K
Nakasujja
N
N
Skolasky
R
R
Musisi
S
S
Katabira
E
E
McArthur
J C
JC
Ronald
A
A
Sacktor
N
N
D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology