Neurodevelopmental outcomes in HIV-infected and uninfected African children - EHESP - École des hautes études en santé publique Access content directly
Journal Articles AIDS. Official journal of the international AIDS Society Year : 2018

Neurodevelopmental outcomes in HIV-infected and uninfected African children

Estelle Pasquier
  • Function : Author

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:HIV infection is associated with cognitive impairments, but outcomes are poorly explored in children starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) early or in those exposed but uninfected.DESIGN:Nested cross-sectional evaluation of the neurocognitive and behavioural outcomes of HIV-infected, HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) and HIV-unexposed (HUU) Cameroonian children at age 4-9 years prospectively followed.METHODS:Cognitive development was assessed in 127 HIV-infected, 101 HEU, 110 HUU children using the KABC-II, neurologic dysfunction using the Touwen examination and behavioural difficulties using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Analyses were adjusted for children age, sex and primary language. Contextual factors were included in a second step to assess their effects on outcomes.RESULTS:All HIV-infected children were treated before 12 months. There was a negative linear gradient in KABC-II scores from HUU children to HEU and HIV-infected children [gradient: -6.0 (-7.7; -4.3) for nonverbal index, NVI, and -8.8 (-10.7; -6.8) for mental processing index, MPI]. After adjusting for contextual factors, scores of HEU children were not significantly different from those of HUU children (all P > 0.1) and differences between HIV-uninfected and HUU children reduced [NVI: from -11.9 (-15.3; -8.5) to -3.4 (-6.8; -0.01), MPI: from -17.6 (-21.3; -13.8) to -5.5 (-9.3; -1.7)]. Compared with uninfected children, HIV-infected children had more neurological dysfunctions and higher SDQ scores (P = 0.002).CONCLUSION:Despite early ART, perinatal-HIV infection is associated with poorer neurocognitive scores and increased behavioural difficulties during childhood. Contextual factors play an important role in this association, which emphasizes the need for early nutritional and developmental interventions targeting both HIV-affected infants and their relatives.

Dates and versions

hal-02461718 , version 1 (30-01-2020)

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Pierre Debeaudrap, Florence Bodeau-Livinec, Estelle Pasquier, David Germanaud, Suzie Tetang Ndiang, et al.. Neurodevelopmental outcomes in HIV-infected and uninfected African children. AIDS. Official journal of the international AIDS Society, 2018, 32 (18), pp.2749-2757. ⟨10.1097/QAD.0000000000002023⟩. ⟨hal-02461718⟩
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