A novel computerized functional assessment for human immunodeficiency virus-associated neurocognitive disorder.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is present in 30-60 % of HIV-positive (HIV+) individuals and can be assessed by neuropsychological testing and level of functional impairment. HAND diagnosis therefore requires accurate assessment of functional impairment. The Computer Assessment of Mild Cognitive Impairment (CAMCI) is a computer-based screening tool that includes performance-based measures of functional impairment. We sought to evaluate the CAMCI as a functional assessment tool in HAND. One hundred fourteen HIV+ patients and 38 HIV-negative (HIV-) patients underwent neuropsychological and CAMCI testing. Cognitive status for HIV+ subjects was classified using the Frascati criteria. HIV+ subjects grouped together and classified by cognitive impairment performed worse than HIV- subjects on several of the CAMCI tasks, including following directions to the supermarket (p = 0.05, p = 0.03), recalling which items to purchase (p = 0.01, p = 0.02), and remembering to stop at a supermarket (p < 0.01, p = 0.01) and the post office (p < 0.01, p = 0.03). After controlling for hepatitis C status and depression symptomatology, the tasks "following directions to the supermarket" and the "recalling which items to purchase" were no longer significant. The "remembering to run two separate errands" tasks retained their significance (p < 0.01 for both tasks). A subset of the CAMCI tasks therefore successfully differentiated HIV+ patients from HIV- individuals. Differences in hepatitis C status and depression symptomatology could account for some of the function assessment differences in the CAMCI. These results suggest the CAMCI could be a useful objective performance-based functional assessment in patients with HIV.

A comparison of performance-based measures of function in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.

The objectives of this study are to compare the results of newer performance-based functional assessments in the study of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) and to correlate these functional assessments with specific levels of severity of HAND. One hundred fourteen HIV+ subjects in an existing cohort were evaluated with a medical history, neurological exam, neuropsychological test battery as well as subjective and novel objective measures of functional abilities. Self-reported measures of functional performance included the Karnofsky Performance Scale, a questionnaire for instrumental activities of daily living, and a questionnaire for physical quality of life measures. The newer objective functional performance assessments included the Columbia Medication Management and the San Diego Finances tests. These newer performance-based measures of function were assessed for their ability to predict level of HAND. The two objective measures of functional performance, The Columbia Medication Management Scale and the San Diego Finances Test, were both associated with levels of severity of HAND. The Karnofsky Performance Scale and the questionnaires for role and physical quality of life were subjective measures that were also associated with specific levels of HAND. Newer measures of functional performance can be used to objectively evaluate functional impairment in HAND and validate different levels of HAND.

Comparison of scales to evaluate the progression of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder.

AIM: First, to compare the characterization of neurocognitive deficits in milder stages of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) derived from existing dementia rating scales of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) with the 2007 consensus ('Frascati') classification. Second, to identify potential sociodemographic and clinical predictors of HAND progression during 1-year follow-up. METHODS: 104 HIV-infected subjects in an existing cohort system were evaluated with a medical history, exam, neuropsychological test battery and functional assessments. The degree of HAND was rated using the AAN, MSK and Frascati scales. The degree of concordance among these scales was determined. In addition, 45 subjects were reassessed for changes in their neurocognitive status at 1-year follow-up. Associations between age, education, sex, depression ratings, substance abuse, race, hepatitis C serostatus, CD4 count and progression of HAND were examined. RESULTS: There was excellent concordance (gamma > 0.8) among the Frascati, MSK and AAN ratings. Subjects rated as having minor cognitive motor disorder on the AAN scale (n = 45) were evenly split between Frascati rating of asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (n = 24) and mild neurocognitive disorder (n = 21). At 1-year follow-up of 45 subjects, 31% had worsened, 13% had improved and 56% were stable. Predictors of progression included age older than 50 years (odds ratio: 5.57; p = 0.013) and female gender (odds ratio: 3.13; p = 0.036). CONCLUSION: The Frascati HAND rating scale has excellent concordance with previous neurocognitive rating scales and can be used to better characterize milder stages of cognitive impairment. Older individuals and women appeared to be more likely to show neurocognitive progression.