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Assessing cognitive impairment in HIV-infected: a comparative study of international HIV Dementia Scale, HIV Dementia Scale Italian version and Montreal cognitive assessment in clinical practice
Maristella Belfiori, Francesco Salis, Camilla Podda, Lorenzo Stanisci, Benedetta Puxeddu, Francesco Ortu, Paola Piano, Stefano Del Giacco et al.. Journal of NeuroVirology, 2025-02-28
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The combination of antiretroviral therapy (cART) and preventive measures has significantly enhanced the management of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. However, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remain a challenge. This study aims to compare cognitive impairment (CI) assessments in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) using the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS), HIV Dementia Scale-Italian Version (HDS-IT) and MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment), while also identifying significant associations. The cross-sectional study encompassed 294 outpatient PLWHA (median age: 57) on cART. Participants underwent cognitive, functional, and depression assessments, laboratory testing and CNS Penetration-Effectiveness (CPE) index assessment. IHDS, HDS-IT and MoCA identified CI in different proportions of PLWHA. Factors such as age, education level, infection duration, and substance use were associated with CI. The IHDS score (OR 0.79) and Level CD4 + T-lymphocytes nadir (OR 0.99) demonstrated independent and negative associations with the CPE-index. IHDS and MoCA tests appear to be useful for detecting CI in outpatient settings, enabling healthcare providers to conduct initial evaluations of PLWHA. IHDS assessment may be used for detecting CI related to high CPE regimens, while the MoCA provides a comprehensive assessment, also in domains not studied by IHDS. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and refine their clinical applicability.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Belfiori, M., Salis, F., Podda, C., Stanisci, L., Puxeddu, B., Ortu, F., et al. (2025). Assessing cognitive impairment in HIV-infected: a comparative study of international HIV Dementia Scale, HIV Dementia Scale Italian version and Montreal cognitive assessment in clinical practice. Journal of NeuroVirology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13365-025-01248-9
Vancouver
Belfiori M, Salis F, Podda C, Stanisci L, Puxeddu B, Ortu F, et al. Assessing cognitive impairment in HIV-infected: a comparative study of international HIV Dementia Scale, HIV Dementia Scale Italian version and Montreal cognitive assessment in clinical practice. Journal of NeuroVirology. 2025. doi:10.1007/s13365-025-01248-9. PMID: 40019698.
BibTeX
@article{belfiori2025-40019698,
author = {Belfiori, Maristella and Salis, Francesco and Podda, Camilla and Stanisci, Lorenzo and Puxeddu, Benedetta and Ortu, Francesco and Piano, Paola and Del Giacco, Stefano and others},
title = {{Assessing cognitive impairment in HIV-infected: a comparative study of international HIV Dementia Scale, HIV Dementia Scale Italian version and Montreal cognitive assessment in clinical practice}},
journal = {Journal of NeuroVirology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1007/s13365-025-01248-9},
pmid = {40019698},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s13365-025-01248-9}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- The combination of antiretroviral therapy (cART) and preventive measures has significantly enhanced the management of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection.
- This study aims to compare cognitive impairment (CI) assessments in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) using the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS), HIV Dementia Scale-Italian Version (HDS-IT) and MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment), while also identifying significant associations.
- Factors such as age, education level, infection duration, and substance use were associated with CI.
- The IHDS score (OR 0.79) and Level CD4 + T-lymphocytes nadir (OR 0.99) demonstrated independent and negative associations with the CPE-index.
- However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and refine their clinical applicability.
Why it matters
In this cross-sectional study of people living with HIV, the IHDS and MoCA tests appeared useful for detecting cognitive impairment in outpatient settings. The study compared assessment tools and did not test any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Effect sizeOR 0.79; OR 0.99
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of NeuroVirology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Journal of NeuroVirology: journal h-index 109 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 7 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 7 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Antonella Mandas: h-index 19 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Cagliari: institution h-index 477 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40019698) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1007/s13365-025-01248-9
- PubMed: 40019698
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of NeuroVirology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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