Correlation between cognitive impairment and the Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test in HIV patients in Sanglah Hospital Denpasar

Abstract. Background: Neurocognitive complications in HIV patients is known as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) with incidence rates as much as 51% and the domain most affected is memory (63%). Verbal memory impairment is one of the deficits that still exists even in the era of antiretroviral use. Memory impairment in HIV patients has an impact on the inability to work, dependency in activities of daily living and poor adherence to ARV treatment. Objective: To determine the correlation between cognitive impairment and Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) on HIV patients in Sanglah Hospital Denpasar. Methods: A cross-sectional study on 30 patients with HIV in outpatient clinic VCT Sanglah Hospital in the period from June to August 2016. Cognitive impairment assessed when the score of Montreal Cognitive Assessment Indonesian version (MoCA-Ina) <26. Further examination with RAVLT consists of A1-5 trial, distractor, A6 trial (immediate recall), trial 7 (delayed recall) and recognition. Results: Lambda correlation test between cognitive impairment and immediate recall RAVLT obtained r=0.571, p=0.045 and delayed recall RAVLT obtained r=0.615, p=0.011 indicates a strong positive correlations were significant (p<0.05) whereas the recognition RAVLT obtained r=0.429, p = 0.068 showed moderate correlations and not significant (p> 0.05). Conclusions: HIV patients who experience cognitive impairment had greater likelihood for impaired immediate recall and delayed recall of verbal memory assessed using RAVLT. Keywords: Cognitive impairment, MoCA Ina, Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test