Mild cognitive impairment and risk of mortality in HIV-1 infection

HIV-1-associated cognitive impairment has only been preliminarily investigated for associations with mortality. The authors examined 119 HIV-1-positive homosexual men (asymptomatic: n = 96; early symptomatic: n = 23). At follow-up (to 3.5 years), there were 105 survivors and 14 nonsurvivors. Those at the 25th percentile in response speeds and in long-term memory retrieval accuracy were at 6.4 (P < 0.02) and 3.5 (P < 0.05) times increased mortality risk, respectively, of those at the 75th percentile--independent of baseline CDC clinical stage, CD4 cell count, hemoglobin level, antiretroviral and prophylactic medication use, and sociodemographics. Cognitive impairment should be identified early--for maximization of both functional status and survival time.