Study of some Neurocognitive Features with Respect to CD4 Cell Count and Duration of Haart in Hiv/AIDS Patients of Art Centre of a Tertiary Care Hospital in West Rajasthan

The HIV infection is associated with neurocognitive decits in attention/working memory, motor abilities and executive functioning, which are often attributed to disruption in fronto-striatal circuitry. These conditions, however, remain largely unrecognized. The primary objective of this study was to delineate the factors affecting the neurocognitive functions in HIV/AIDS patients undergoing Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). This prospective cohort study was carried out between October 2011 to September 2012 in '80' HIV positive individuals, randomly selected from ART Centre of PBM and AG Hospital, Bikaner, India. The neurocognitive features were assessed using International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS). The lower baseline CD4 cell count and duration of HAART for less than one year, both were found to be signicantly associated with cognitive impairment. However, the patients receiving Stavudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine combination regimen had better status of cognitive functions in comparison to patients receiving other regimens.