| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Abstract | | Title: Fatique is associated with learning and memory difficulties among people infected with the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). | | Authors: Posada C, Moore DJ, Vigil O, Ake C, Perry W, Hassanein TI, Letendre SL, Grant I, and the HNRC Group | | Year: 2009 | | Publication: Journal of NeuroVirology | | Volume: 15 Issue: S1 Pages: 74 | | Abstract:Introduction: Individuals with HCV often complain of fatigue and cognitive deficits. The present study examines the relationship between fatigue and cognitive abilities among HCV+ persons many of whom have additional comorbidities including HIV co-infection and past methamphetamine abuse/dependence.
Method: We examined 31 HCV+ men and 30 HCV+ women with the Fatigue Severity Scale, an instrument developed to assess disabling fatigue and also administered a neuropsychological battery that assessed 7 cognitive domains. Mean age was 48.4 (range 22 to 66), the mean (log) HCV RNA was 5.9 (range 4.2 to 7.3), and the AST-to-Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) mean was 0.85 (range 0.1 to 5.9). Nineteen were HIV seropositive and 27 met criteria for past methamphetamine abuse/dependence.
Results: Although severity of fatigue was not associated with a summary neuropsychological score, severity of fatigue was negatively associated with learning and recall (learning: ρ = − 0.36, p = 0.004; recall: ρ = − 0.35, p = 0.005). No other domain scores were correlated with fatigue. In terms of HCV disease characteristics, neither HCV RNA nor APRI were significantly correlated with severity of fatigue. HIV serostatus was not associated with severity of fatigue. In terms of psychiatric disorders, neither lifetime Major Depressive Disorder nor lifetime methamphetamine abuse/dependence was associated with severity of fatigue (all p`s > 0.10).
Discussion: Severity of fatigue appears to be associated with worse learning and recall performance among HCV+ individuals. Further assessment is necessary to determine whether fatigue and learning/memory difficulties are the result of a common HCV-induced pathway or whether the two may derive independently. |
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