eprintid: 30418
rev_number: 53
userid: 6273
dir: disk0/00/03/04/18
datestamp: 2017-05-23 18:46:38
lastmod: 2021-03-11 05:56:03
status_changed: 2017-05-23 18:46:38
type: thesis
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: nickres@yahoo.com
eprint_status: archive
creators_name: Resciniti, Nicholas
creators_email: nvr3@pitt.edu
creators_id: NVR3
contributors_type: committee_chair
contributors_type: committee_member
contributors_name: Kingsley, Lawrence
contributors_name: Becker, James
contributors_email: kingsley@pitt.edu
contributors_email: BeckerJT@upmc.edu
title: Evaluation of diagnostic criteria for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study
ispublished: unpub
divisions: sch_gsph_infectiousdiseasesmicrobiology
full_text_status: public
abstract: Since the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), individuals with HIV live a fairly normal life, although some develop neurocognitive impairment. HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is the term used to describe these neurocognitive impairments within the HIV population, and include asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (ANI), mild neurocognitive impairment (MND), and HIV-associated dementia (HAD). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the diagnostic criteria for HAND used by investigators in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). Two MACS studies examined the rates of HAND in the HIV+ and HIV- men and found similar prevalence rates of HAND (31.82% and 31.89%), ANI (16.23% and 15.75%), MND (12.99% and 11.81%), and HAD (2.6% and 4.33%). These rates suggest that the methods used to diagnose HAND do an inadequate job to distinguish between HIV+ and HIV- individuals. Better diagnostic criteria for HAND need to be developed to improve classification of the clinical spectrum of HAND. One way to improve the accuracy of diagnosis of HAND is to apply the Rasch analysis when analyzing the diagnostic criteria of MACS. This would help with the monitoring of disease progression, change or adjustment of cART, and identification of risk factors. By monitoring the progression of HAND, clinicians will be able to change or adjust cART as needed and help identify risk factors, which can help to alleviate public health concerns. The public health concerns associated with HAND are unemployment, social decline, lack of adherence to medications, and a poorer quality of life.
date: 2017-01-04
date_type: submitted
publisher: University of Pittsburgh
institution: University of Pittsburgh
refereed: TRUE
thesis_type: masteressay
degree: MPH
citation:   Resciniti, Nicholas  (2017) Evaluation of diagnostic criteria for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.  Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.   
document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/30418/1/Resciniti_Essay_2016_DEC.doc
document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/30418/3/licence.txt