HIV and anticholinergic burden: Towards a pragmatic stewardship algorithm

Multimorbidity and polypharmacy increase exposure to medications with anticholinergic properties in people with HIV. In elderly people, higher anticholinergic burden (ACB) is linked to cognitive impairment, falls, functional decline and mortality, whose risk is amplified in those with HIV. However, screening and management are inconsistently implemented.

This review aims to summarize the epidemiology and clinical impact of ACB in people with HIV, to compare commonly used ACB measures, and to propose a pragmatic workflow for the ACB management.

Narrative synthesis of the general literature on ACB and studies conducted in people with HIV, with emphasis on cognitive, functional and safety outcomes, in consideration of explicit prescribing criteria and antiretroviral interaction resources.

Observational studies in people with HIV associate higher ACB with worse neuropsychological performance, reduced brain integrity, increased falls/frailty and more anticholinergic symptoms; scale choice influences case-finding. The proposed workflow targets high-yield actions: comprehensive medication reconciliation, rapid ACB scoring, dose-aware drug burden index when sedatives are present, symptom and outcome screening (falls, constipation/urinary retention, cognition, sleep), antiretroviral DDI checks (notably with boosted regimens) and structured deprescribing/substitution. Safer substitutions and tapered withdrawal are emphasized. All this requires resources and training, hence becoming challenging in small centres and low-middle income countries.

ACB routine measurement and reduction is a feasible, patient-centred strategy to improve safety and quality of life in ageing people with HIV, but not extensively available in different settings. Prospective, implementation-focused studies in HIV care are needed to quantify benefits on cognition, falls and quality of life.