Variation in Spatio-Temporal Gait Parameters among Patients with HIV-Related Neurocognitive Impairment Nweke Martins C1,*, Akinpelu Aderonke O2, Ezema Charles I1 1Department of Medical Rehabilitation, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus 2Department of Physiotherapy, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-ozalla, Enugu *Corresponding author: Martins C Nweke e-mail: martinsnweke@gmail.com
Online published on 21 November, 2019. Abstract Neurocognitive impairment is a common complication of HIV that predisposes to gait abnormalities and risk of falls. Understanding the impact of this complication on gait is important to strategies directed at reducing risk of falls among adults living with HIV. The study sought to evaluate the influence of cognitive impairment on spatiotemporal gait parameters of HIV-seropositive Individuals. A purposive sample of 120 HIV-seropositive individuals with modal age of 30-39years participated in this cross-sectional survey. Assessment of cognitive impairment was executed with the aid of the HIV Dementia Scale respectively. Severity of cognitive impairment was classified using the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale. Recent history of falls was reported and documented. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were evaluated using the Shore footprint method of analysis. Data was summarized using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation. One-way analysis of variance was used to test for differences in gait parameters among participants with mild cognitive impairment, dementia and normal cognition. The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and dementia were 67.5% and 28.4% respectively. Nine participants reported recent history of fall. The mean stride length, step length, walking speed and width of support were 117.02±14.74cm, 79.89±9.87cm 1.58±0.25m/s and 10.96±5 respectively. History of fall was significantly associated with dementia (p<0.05). Significant differences in step and stride lengths and walking speed were found between participants with dementia and those with normal cognition (p<0.05). In conclusion, HIV-dementia predisposes to gait deficits, with consequent tendency for falls. Top Keywords HIV, cognitive dysfunction, dementia, gait, falls. Top |