Neurocognitive decline as a major predictor of nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy among adults living with HIV in Dodoma region, central Tanzania.

Background: The survival of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome largely depends on good adherence to antiretroviral medications. Neuropsychiatric conditions such as major depressive disorders (MDDs) and neurocognitive disorders, in particular, are common in the HIV population and attributed to suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral treatment and overall poor clinical outcomes. This study aimed to determine the association between neurocognitive disorders and nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Dodoma region's adult population living with HIV.

Methods: The study was conducted in Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital using a cross-sectional design to assess 397 participants through a systematic sampling approach. Montreal Cognitive Assessment was used to determine neurocognitive function, while the Simplified Medical Adherence Questionnaire was used to assess nonadherence to ART. Logistic regression analysis was computed to determine the association between cognitive decline and nonadherence to ART while controlling for sociodemographic and clinical confounders.

Results: Out of the 397 recruited participants, 266 (67.00%) and 41 (10.33%) met the criteria for neurocognitive decline and nonadherence to ART. Participants with cognitive impairment had a significantly poorer adherence rate than those without, even after controlling for confounders adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.183 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.031, 4.630,  = 0.0413). MDD was the only additional factor that remained significantly associated with ART nonadherence (aOR: 4.332, 95% CI: 1.634, 11.485,  = 0.0032).

Conclusion: Neurocognitive disorders are strong predictor of suboptimal adherence to ART; a comorbid neuropsychiatric condition such as MDD may further compromise the ART adherence rate leading to poor HIV care and poor clinical outcome. Further research with systematic and more robust studies in the field will provide a baseline to design and integrate appropriate care models to maximize ART adherence in HIV care. Integration of psychiatric services in HIV care can benefit the overall patient outcome.