RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) is still prevalent even in the ART (Anti-Retroviral Therapy) era. It may have some association with CD4 counts and Anti-Retroviral Therapy. The prevalence of HAND in HIV-patients, was, therefore studied in the context of ART and CD4 counts. METHODS: Modified Mini Mental State Examination scores of 200 (65% males) HIV-positive patients and 200 controls were analyzed in the context of ART and CD4 counts. RESULTS: Maximum number of participants were educated between 8th-12th class (89.5%), aged between 25-50 years (81.5%) and a higher proportion of males had a CD4 count <500 (69.2%) (p=0.007). Using 3MS, 21% patients (mean 76.24±1.51) and none of the controls were found to be neurocognitively impaired. Mean scores of patients with CD4 counts<500(82.54±5.58) were lesser in comparison to those of patients with CD4 counts>500 (p<0.001). Those with an ART duration of <48 months had a lower score in comparison to those with an ART duration of >72 months (p=0.005).Most decrease from maximum value was seen in similarities (48.3 %), second recall (36.1 %), repetition (33.4 %), copying two pentagons (28.3 %), read and obey (24.0 %), mental reversal (22.7 %) and first recall (21.3%) parameters of Modified Mini Mental State Examination. CONCLUSIONS: HAND was less prevalent in the present study in comparison to past literature. CD4 counts and ART duration had an inverse association with the degree of cognitive impairment. The parameters of Modified Mini Mental State Examination showing maximum impairment may be compiled to form a short screening questionnaire.