Journal Article

Dementia prevalence and risk factors in people with and without HIV in Malawi: A medical record review

Bauleni, Esther, Mlombe, Yohannie, Yang, Hyun‐Sik, Maseke, Joseph, Phiri, Tiwonge, Ngoma, Jonathan, Lee, Haeok, Song, Yeunjoo E., Jun, Gyungah R., Choi, Yun‐Beom

2025

Overview

BACKGROUND Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) is experiencing a rapid increase in its aging population, including people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLHIV). The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of dementia among PLHIV and people without HIV (POHIV) in Malawi. METHODS We conducted a retrospective medical record review of 400 consecutive patients from a single tertiary health center (200 PLHIV from an HIV clinic and 200 POHIV from an outpatient clinic) in Lilongwe, Malawi. RESULTS The overall rate of dementia was higher in PLHIV than that in POHIV (22% vs 10%; p = 1.4e). Older age, unknown employment or unemployed, and depression were significant risk factors for dementia for PLHIV, while older age and depression were significant among POHIV. DISCUSSION Our study confirmed the increased risk of dementia in PLHIV and provides valuable groundwork for future dementia studies to accurately examine the prevalence and risk factors of dementia in SSA, including Malawi. Highlights Malawians, in SSA, face the double burden of HIV AD and related dementias. We conducted a retrospective medical record review to assess dementia prevalence and risk factors. Dementia prevalence was higher in PLHIV than in POHIV. Older age, unknown employment or unemployed, and depression were risk factors for dementia in PLHIV. Our findings, reflecting the current diagnosing and medical documenting practice in Malawi, provide valuable groundwork for future dementia research in Malawi.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subject: Adult / Age / Age Factors / Aged / Aging / Alzheimer's disease / Clinics / Data collection / Dementia / Dementia - epidemiology / depression / Depression - epidemiology / double burden / electronic medical record / Employment / Female / Health facilities / HIV / HIV infection / HIV Infections - complications / HIV Infections - epidemiology / Hospitals / Human immunodeficiency virus / Humans / infrastructure / lack of health resource / Life expectancy / low‐income country / Malawi / Malawi - epidemiology / Male / medical record review / Medical Records / Mental depression / Middle Aged / Patients / Population aging / Population growth / Prevalence / Retrospective Studies / Risk assessment / Risk Factors / Unemployed people