Prevalence and factors associated with the neurocognitive symptoms in adults and elders living with hiv/aids in an antiviral treatment

Introdução: Studies show that about 50% of people living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) will develop some HIV Associates Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND). Objectives: To describe the prevalence and factors associated with neurocognitive symptoms in adults living with HIV/AIDS undergoing antiretroviral treatment. Method: The cross-sectional study was carried out with adults (18 to 79 years old) living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral treatment in the municipality of Ponta Grossa- PR. The collection of primary data was carried out, between March and August 2021, with the instruments: International HIV Dementia Scale, Instrumental Scale for Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS- 21) and sociodemographic and behavioral data. Additionally, the extraction of secondary data (clinical and laboratory). Absolute(n) and relative (%) frequency measures and associations between HAND and sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical and laboratory variables were used using the chi-square test ( p< 0.05). Results: A total of 118 users, aged 19 to 74, were included. The prevalence of probable HAND was 88.1%. About IADL, 78.0% proved to be independent for activities of daily living and none with total dependence. The evaluated participants had severe or very severe symptoms of anxiety (52.9%), and moderate and severe symptoms of depression (30.7%). The main factors likely associated with HAND were: lower education (p= 0.013), use of illicit drugs (p= 0.03), low CD4 nadir (< 350 cell/mm³) (p=0.047), and low HDL (<40 mg/dl) (p=0.045) Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of probable HAND associated with sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical and laboratory factors.