Contemporary prevalence and predictors of anxiety among patients living with HIVAIDS in Ghana

Objectives: To identify the prevalence and associated factors of anxiety in people living with HIV/AIDS in a tertiary centre in Ghana. Design: The study employed a cross-sectional design. Setting: The study was conducted in the outpatient HIV clinic of a tertiary hospital. Participants: Participants were adult PLWHA receiving OPD care, including those established on combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) and newer patients who were not on cART. Four hundred ninety-five participants aged ≥30 years were consecutively enrolled on the study. Interventions: Demographic and clinical data were collected using standard questionnaires and patient files. Anxiety was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify associated factors. Main outcome measure: Proportion of PLWHA who had HADS score of ≥8 Results: Overall prevalence of anxiety was 61.0% (95%CI: 56.6 ­ 65.3), with no significant difference between recently diagnosed (≤ 6 months, 64.3%) and those with established diagnoses (>6 months, 59.1%). Urban residence (aOR: 1.67, 95%CI: 1.12 ­ 2.51), alcohol use (aOR: 1.64, 95%CI: 1.13 ­ 2.38) and depression (aOR: 13.62, 95%CI: 7.91 ­ 23.45) were independently associated with anxiety. Conclusion: In this sample, 6 in 10 Ghanaian PLWHA had evidence of anxiety. Liaison with the national mental health service for more comprehensive and integrated care and further research into the mental health of PLWHA is recommended to reduce this high burden of anxiety

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders

HIV infection is associated with disturbances in brain function referred to as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). This literature review outlines the recently revised diagnostic criteria for the range of HAND from the earliest to the more advanced stages: (i) asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment; (ii) mild neurocognitive disorder; and (iii) HIVassociated dementia. Relevant literature is also reviewed regarding the differential impact upon component cognitive domains known to be affected in HAND; which in turn should ideally be targeted during clinical and neuropsychological assessments: psychomotor and information processing speed; learning and memory; attention and working memory; speech and language; executive functioning and visuospatial functioning. A discussion outlining the neuropsychological tools used in the diagnostic screening of HAND is also included. The central mechanisms of HAND appear to revolve primarily around psychomotor slowing and cognitive control over mental operations; possibly reflecting the influence of disrupted fronto-striatal circuits on distributed neural networks critical to cognitive functions. The accurate assessment and diagnosis of HAND depends on meeting the need for statistically sound neuropsychological assessment techniques that may be used confidently in assessing South African populations; as well as the development of relevant norms for comparison of test performance data

Hallazgos neuropatológicos de la infección por VIH-SIDA: estudio de autopsias en el Hospital Universitario de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia / Neuropathologic features of the infection HIV-AIDS: study autopsy in the Hospital Universitario de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia

Objetivo: Describir las alteraciones macro y microscópicas observadas en el sistema nervioso central (SNC) de pacientes que fallecieron por la infección con VIH-SIDA. Metodología: Estudio retrospectivo de autopsias del 1 de enero de 2004 al 31 de diciembre de 2007 en un hospital público de tercer nivel en la ciudad de Bucaramanga, Santander. Resultados: El hallazgo neuropatológico más común en pacientes que fallecieron por la infección VIH-SIDA fue toxoplasmosis cerebral, 17 casos (28.3%) luego criptococosis cerebral, 7 casos (11.6%), tuberculosis del SNC, 3 casos (5%), encefalopatía por HIV, 2 casos (3.3%), meningitis piógena, un caso (1.6%) y hallazgos inespecíficos,2 casos (3.3%).  No hubo lesiones neoplásicas, infecciones por citomegalovirus, herpes, histoplasmosis ni leucoencefalopatía multifocal progresiva (LMP) en ninguno de los casos. En el presente estudio se encontraron cambios en el SNC en 32 casos (53.1%), que, después del respiratorio (39-65%), fue el sistema más afectado por las complicaciones relacionadas con la enfermedad por VIH. La presencia de lesión directa (encefalitis por HIV) y al mismo tiempo infección oportunista se encontró sólo en un caso (1.6%). Conclusiones: En Bucaramanga las infecciones oportunistas fueron las complicaciones más frecuentes y graves a nivel del SNC en los enfermos con VIH-SIDA, de ellas la toxoplasmosis cerebral fue la que más comprometió el SNC de los pacientes con infección con VIH-SIDA, y se expresó morfológicamente como una meningoencefalitis necrosante, ubicada de manera preferencial en la región de los ganglios basales.

Objective: To describe the macroscopic and microscopic alterations observed in the central nervous system (CNS) in patients who died through HIV-AIDS infection. Method used: Retrospective study of autopsies from January 1st 2004 to December 31st 2007 in a third-level public hospital at Bucaramanga, Santander.Results: The most common neuro-pathological findings in patients who died through HIV-AIDS infection were cerebral toxoplasmosis, 17 cases (28.3%); followed by cerebral cryptococcosis, 7 cases (11.6%); CNS tuberculosis, 3 cases (5%); HIV encephalitis, 2 cases (3.3%); and bacterial meningitis, 1 case (1.6%). Neoplasm lesions, CMV infection, herpes infection, histoplasmosis, and progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (PML) were not found in any case. In this study, changes were seen in the CNS in 32 cases (53.1%), which after the respiratory system (39-65%) was the most affected system for complications related to HIV infection. HIV-induced encephalopathy simultaneously with an opportunistic infection was only found in 1 case (1.6 %). Conclusion: In Bucaramanga, opportunistic infections are the most frequent and serious complications in the CNS of individuals with HIV-AIDS; among them cerebral toxoplasmosis was the most frequently observed complication in the CNS of patients with HIV-AIDS, appearing morphologically as a meningoencephalitis with necrosis and large lesions localized in the gangliobasal region.