Association between cognitive function, socio-clinical factors and biomarkers among Panamanian adults living with and without HIV: A cross-sectional study

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection disrupts brain function, producing cognitive deficits that impair daily functioning, reduce quality of life, and worsen clinical outcomes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of neurocognitive impairment among people with HIV in Panama, and to investigate the association between cognitive function with socio-clinical factors and biomarkers. A community-based cross-sectional study recruited 193 and 203 people with and without HIV, respectively. Participants provided blood samples and underwent a clinical interview comprised of functionality questionnaires and in-depth neuropsychological assessments. Results indicated that people with HIV had significantly lower global cognition and executive function scores than people without HIV, and a significantly larger proportion of people with HIV showed some cognitive impairment compared to people without HIV, despite the use of antiretroviral therapy. Multivariate analyses showed that people with HIV had significantly lower scores in attention, visual spatial construction, verbal-visual learning, verbal-visual memory, processing speed, and motor function. Neurocognitive test scores were not related to HIV clinical factors but were instead associated with demographic factors such as age and education. These findings highlight the need for further research on the determinants of cognitive impairment among people with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean.