Gait-associated dynamic deviations during cognitive dual tasks in physically active adults living with HIV

Introduction: Among Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) complications, individuals living with HIV experience cognitive deterioration that could influence gait and balance in this group. To identify gait variations during dual cognitive tasks equaled to single tasks in those living with HIV.

Material and methods: 11 females and 18 male adults (age, 60.31 ± 7.82) diagnosed with HIV were recruited for the current investigation. The study instructed participants to walk 7 meters (single tasks), and the same distance while counting backward from 100 by 3 (dual cognitive tasks). During the activity, parameters, such as gait speed, stride length, and postural sway were gathered with six motion analysis sensors.

Results: A significant reduction in cadence (single tasks: 108.6 ± 16.7, dual tasks: 92.3 ± 25.9; p < 0.001), gait speed (single tasks: 0.98 ± 0.28, dual tasks: 0.78 ± 0.31; p < 0.001), time during swing phase percentage (single tasks: 38.7 ± 3.9, dual tasks: 35.3 ± 7.9; p < 0.05), single-limb support time (single tasks: 38.2 ± 3.9, dual tasks: 35.4 ± 7.9; p < 0.05), and stride length (single tasks: 1.1 ± 0.2, dual tasks: 0.95 ± 0.3; p < 0.05) were observed during dual cognitive tasks when compared to single tasks.

Conclusions: Gait-associated dynamic alterations were revealed as a compensatory strategy to adapt to the requirements of dual cognitive tasks for those living with HIV, even when physically active. We advise physicians to investigate the cognitive characters of all individuals with HIV, regardless of the status of the condition.