Psychiatric Morbidity in Children with HIV/AIDS at a Tertiary Health Institution in North-central Nigeria

Psychiatric Comorbidities in Pediatric Inpatients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Impact on Hospital Course: Inputs From a Case-Control Inpatient Study

Objectives In this study, we aimed to delineate psychiatric comorbidities in pediatric inpatients with versus without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and to measure its impact on the length of stay (LOS) and cost of treatment during hospitalization. Methodology We conducted a case-control study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample and included 4,920 pediatric inpatients between the ages of six and 18 years who were sub-grouped by a comorbid diagnosis of HIV (N = 2,595) and non-HIV (N = 2,325) and matched for demographics (age, sex, and race) by propensity case-control matching. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of association for psychiatric comorbidities (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, and drug abuse) in the HIV-positive compared with the HIV-negative (as reference category) pediatric inpatients. We measured the differences in the LOS and cost using the independent sample t-test. Results We found that the most prevalent psychiatric comorbidities in the HIV-positive group were anxiety (6.9%), drug abuse (6.6%), psychosis (6.4%), and depression (6.2%). The HIV-positive group had a significantly higher likelihood of comorbid psychosis (aOR: 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38-2.40) and depression (aOR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.36-2.36). The mean LOS per hospitalization episode was longer for the HIV-positive group (11.1 days vs. 6.0 days; P < 0.001) compared to the HIV-negative pediatric inpatients. Conclusions We found an increased risk of depression by 79% and psychosis by 82% in the HIV-positive pediatric population. These inpatients also had an extended hospitalization stay (by five days), adding to the healthcare economic burden.

Psychiatric Disorders in Adolescents Living with HIV and Association with Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a systematic approach to exploring the prevalence of psychiatric disorders (PDs) and adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) in adolescents living with HIV (ALWHIV) is lacking. This study aimed to systematically review the studies conducted in SSA on the prevalence of PDs among ALWHIV and their association with ART adherence. A systematic search of all English studies assessing PDs among ALWHIV using the Web of Science, PubMed, and EBSCO databases was conducted between March 1 and September 30, 2019. Forty-two studies published between 2009 to 2019 met the inclusion criteria, of which 15 were included in the meta-analysis. The most common PDs were depression (0.24, 95% CI 0.14-0.36) and anxiety disorder (0.26, 95% CI 2-0.44). The available evidence could not conclude on the definitive association between PDs and ART adherence; therefore, further research is required. However, the need for mental health integration in the care for ALWHIV is evident.

Behavioral impairment and cognition in Thai adolescents affected by HIV

BACKGROUND

Cognitive and behavioral impairment are common in children living with perinatally acquired HIV (pHIV) and children exposed to HIV in utero but uninfected (HEU).

METHODS

We sought to determine the prevalence of adverse behavioral symptomatology using a Thai-translated and validated version of the SNAP-IV questionnaire and assess cognitive function utilizing the Children's Color Trails Test, Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System, and the Wechsler Intelligence Scales, in our cohort of Thai adolescents (10-20 years old) with well-controlled pHIV compared to HEU and HIV-unexposed, uninfected youth. We then evaluated the interaction between HIV status, behavioral impairment, and executive function outcomes independent of demographic variables.

RESULTS

After controlling for demographic factors of age and household income, adolescents with pHIV had higher inattentive symptomatology and poorer neuropsychological test scores compared to uninfected controls. Significant interactions were found between inattention and executive function across multiple neurocognitive tests.

CONCLUSIONS

Behavioral impairment and poor executive functioning are present in adolescents with well-controlled pHIV compared to HIV-uninfected matched peers. The SNAP-IV questionnaire may be a useful tool to identify those with attentional impairment who may benefit from further cognitive testing in resource-limited settings.