Data from a cross-sectional study of a clinic-based sample of older people living with HIV (PLWH; n = 100) were used to examine associations between biomarkers of physical health and neurocognitive impairment (NCI). In this sample, anemia, chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 4-5, and hypocalcemia were associated with impairment in executive functioning or processing speed. Furthermore, participants with anemia were more likely to have CD4+ T cell counts <200 cells/mm3 (χ2 [1] = 19.57, p < .001); hypocalcemia (χ2 [1] = 17.55, p < .001); and CKD 4-5 (χ2 [2] = 10.12, p = .006). Black and Hispanic participants were more likely to be anemic compared to other races and ethnicities (χ2 [3] = 12.76, p = .005). Common medical conditions (e.g., anemia, hypocalcemia, CKD) should be investigated as potential contributors to NCI in older PLWH. Additionally, laboratory testing in racial/ethnic minority PLWH may help inform NCI screening.
Keywords: HIV; neurocognitive impairment; screening.
Copyright © 2016 Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.