Alcohol consumption and neurocognitive deficits in people with well-treated HIV in Switzerland

Publication

Alcohol consumption and neurocognitive deficits in people with well-treated HIV in Switzerland

Journal Paper/Review - Mar 2, 2021

Darling Katharine E A, Fux Christophe, Rossi Stefania, Di Benedetto Caroline, Früh Severin, Schmid Patrick, Tarr Philip E, Daeppen Jean-Bernard, Du Pasquier Renaud, Cavassini Matthias, Stoeckle Marcel, Kunze Ursi, Locatelli Isabella, Benghalem Nadia, Nadin Isaure, Calmy Alexandra, Gutbrod Klemens, Hauser Christoph, Brugger Peter, Hasse Barbara, Kovari Helen, NAMACO Study Group, Swiss HIV Cohort Study

Citation

Darling K, Fux C, Rossi S, Di Benedetto C, Früh S, Schmid P, Tarr P, Daeppen J, Du Pasquier R, Cavassini M, Stoeckle M, Kunze U, Locatelli I, Benghalem N, Nadin I, Calmy A, Gutbrod K, Hauser C, Brugger P, Hasse B, Kovari H, NAMACO Study Group, Swiss HIV Cohort Study. Alcohol consumption and neurocognitive deficits in people with well-treated HIV in Switzerland. PloS one 2021; 16:e0246579.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

PloS one 2021; 16

Publication Date

Mar 2, 2021

Issn Electronic

1932-6203

Pages

e0246579

Brief description/objective

BACKGROUND
Hazardous alcohol consumption and HIV infection increase the risk of neurocognitive impairment (NCI). We examined the association between alcohol consumption and specific neurocognitive domain function in people with HIV (PWH) taking modern antiretroviral therapy.

METHODS
The Neurocognitive Assessment in the Metabolic and Aging Cohort (NAMACO) study is a prospective, longitudinal, multicentre and multilingual (French, German and Italian) study of patients aged ≥45 years old enrolled in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS). Baseline data from 981 study participants were examined. Five neurocognitive domains were evaluated: motor skills, speed of information processing, attention/working memory, executive function and verbal episodic memory. NCI was examined as binary (presence/absence) and continuous (mean z-score) outcomes against Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Consumption (AUDIT-C) scores using logistic and linear regression models, respectively.

RESULTS
Most participants (96.2%) had undetectable viral loads and 64% were aged >50 years old. Hazardous alcohol consumption was observed in 49.4% of participants and binge drinking in 4.2%. While alcohol consumption frequency and quantity were not associated with NCI, the practice of binge drinking was significantly associated with impaired motor skills and overall neurocognitive function in both binary (odds ratio, OR ≥2.0, P <0.05) and continuous (mean z-score difference -0.2 to -0.4, P ≤0.01) outcomes. A significant U-shaped distribution of AUDIT-C score was also observed for motor skills and overall neurocognitive function.

CONCLUSIONS
In this cohort of PWH with well-controlled HIV infection, NCI was associated with the practice of binge drinking rather than alcohol consumption frequency or quantity. Longitudinal analysis of alcohol consumption and NCI in this population is currently underway.