Liver fibrosis is associated with cognitive impairment in HIV‐positive patients

Abstract

Introduction

The aim of our study was to investigate the potential relationship between liver fibrosis (LF) and cognitive performance in HIV+ patients.

Materials and Methods

We performed a cross‐sectional cohort study by consecutively enrolling HIV+ patients during routine outpatient visits at two clinical centres in Italy. Subjects with decompensated liver disease were excluded. All subjects underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery exploring memory, attention, psychomotor speed and language; cognitive impairment was defined as at least two abnormal [1.5 SD below the mean for appropriate norms] cognitive domains. LF was explored by calculating FIB4 index; in a subgroup of patients, LF was also assessed by transient elastography. Factors associated with cognitive impairment were investigated by logistic regression models.

Results

A total of 413 patients [77% males, median age 46 (IQR 39–52), 17% with past AIDS‐defining events, 19% past IDU, 3% with diabetes, 94% on cART, 90% with HIV RNA <50 copies/mL, 18% co‐infected with HCV] were enrolled. Seventeen patients (4%) had FIB4 >3.25 and 14/129 (3%) had liver stiffness >14KPa. Forty‐seven patients (11%) were diagnosed with cognitive impairment. At multivariate analyses patients with FIB4 >1.45 showed a higher risk of cognitive impairment in comparison with those with lower values (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.02–4.72; p=0.044) after adjusting for education (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.71–0.88; p<0.001), past IDU (OR 1.69, 95% CI 0.67–4.23; p=0.264), diabetes (OR 2.35, 95% CI 0.62–8.86; p=0.207), HIV RNA <50 copies/mL (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.19–1.14; p=0.095) and HCV co‐infection (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.33–2.39; p=0.807). Analyzing any single cognitive domain, a higher risk of abnormal psychomotor speed was associated with fibroscan score >14KPa in comparison with fibroscan score <7KPa (OR 285.07; 95% CI 2.42–33574.06; p=0.020) after adjusting for education (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31–0.92; p=0.024), age (for 10 years increase) (OR 2.03, 95% CI 0.55–7.53; p=0.288), past IDU (OR 4.43, 95% CI 0.35–7.57; p=0.526), HIV RNA <50 copies/mL (OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.00–0.18; p=0.003), HIV history (for 1 year increase) (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.83–1.12; p=0.641), CD4 cells count at nadir (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.56–2.16; p=0.779), and HCV co‐infection (OR 0.06; 95% CI 0.00–1.93; p=0.113).

Conclusions

In HIV‐infected patients higher LF, estimated through non‐invasive methods, is associated to a higher risk of cognitive impairment.