| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Poster | | Title: HIV-infected Hispanics are at increased risk for neurocognitive impairment. | | Authors: Marquine M, Moore DJ, Cherner M, Ellis R, Deutsch R, Franklin D, Letendre S, Collier A, Marra C, Clifford D, Gelman B, McArthur J, Morgello S, Simpson D, McCutchan JA, Heaton RK, Grant I, and the CHARTER Group | | Date: 02-12-2014 | | Abstract:Objective: HIV disproportionately affects Hispanics, yet little is known about neurocognitive impairment (NCI) among HIV-infected (HIV+) Hispanics. We compared the rates of NCI in large well-characterized samples of HIV+ Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites.
Participants and Methods: Participants included English-speaking HIV+ adults assessed at six U.S. medical centers (186 Hispanics, 626 non-Hispanic Whites). For overall group, Age: M=42.4, SD=9.1; 86% Male; Education: M=13.2, SD=2.7; 58% had AIDS. NCI was assessed with a comprehensive battery covering seven domains, with normative corrections for age, education and gender. Covariates examined included HIV disease characteristics, and medical and psychiatric comorbidities.
Results: Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanics had higher rates of global NCI (44% vs. 56%), and domain NCI in executive function, learning, and working memory. Hispanics were younger, less educated, more likely to be female, had lower current and nadir CD4 counts, higher rates of AIDS, were more likely to be on ART and less likely to have a history of depression. There were no significant group differences in rates of substance use or overall comorbidity rating. Hispanics continued to have more global NCI (OR=1.6, CI=1.1-2.2, p=.01) after adjusting for significant covariates. Higher rates of global NCI were observed among those of Puerto Rican (n=57; 74%) than Mexican (n=69, 42%) origin/descent; this disparity persisted in models adjusting for significant covariates (OR=3.2, CI=1.5-7.2, p<.01).
Conclusion: HIV+ Hispanics are at increased risk for NCI compared to non-Hispanic Whites. In the present sample of English-speaking Hispanics those of Puerto Rican origin/descent largely drove this disparity. Differences in rates of NCI were not completely explained by worse HIV disease characteristics or comorbidities. Future studies might explore culturally relevant psychosocial and biomedical factors that might explain these health disparities and inform the development of culturally relevant interventions. |
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