Relationship between HIV stage and psychomotor speed neurocognitive score at a Kenyan sub-county hospital.
BACKGROUND
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is associated with cognitive impairment which affects psychomotor speed. Psychomotor slowing is a predictor of dementia and death in people living with HIV and AIDS. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between HIV disease stage and psychomotor speed neurocognitive score which will add to the body of knowledge required to manage patients with HIV and AIDS.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between psychomotor speed neurocognitive score and the HIV disease stage in adults at initiation of care.


METHODS
This study was conducted at Kangundo Sub-county hospital comprehensive care centre.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study. All HIV seropositive patients aged 18 to 50 years recently initiated into care were studied. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data. The World Health Organization (WHO) stage was used during data collection to classify study participants into asymptomatic and symptomatic groups. The grooved pegboard test was used to obtain psychomotor speed neurocognitive scores. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise data. Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's rho and multiple linear regression were employed in the analysis; p-value of 0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
The WHO stage did not have a significant effect on the psychomotor speed neurocognitive score (p ≥ 0.05). The CD4 count had a significant effect on psychomotor speed neurocognitive score (p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a significant correlation between CD4 counts and psychomotor speed neurocognitive score. Efforts should be made to ensure that the CD4 counts of people living with HIV and AIDS do not continue to fall after initiation into care in order to preserve psychomotor function.
Department of Family Medicine, Moi University, Eldoret, Nairobi. njambi09@gmail.com.
Rachael N
RN
Kinuthia
Benson N
BN
Gakinya
Joseph M
JM
Thigiti
D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology