“…Since the average estimate of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders was predisposed to considerable heterogeneity, we employed a subgroup analysis based on the country where the study was done, the assessment tool used to screen HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, and the study design. The average estimate of HIV associated neurocognitive disorders in Europe ( 8 , 14 , 21 , 23 , 24 , 27 , 28 , 40 , 41 , 44 ) was found to be 50.015% (95% CI: 43.339, 56.691) whereas in Africa ( 10 , 13 , 18 , 20 , 25 , 30 , 31 , 35 , 37 – 39 , 45 – 50 ), Asia ( 17 , 26 , 34 , 36 , 43 ) and the United States of America (USA) ( 29 , 41 ) the average prevalence of HAND were 49.566% (95% CI: 41.342, 57.791) with ( I 2 = 96.6%, p < 0.001), 52.032 % (95% CI: 34.46, 69.604) with ( I 2 = 98%, p < 0.001) and 50.407% (95%CI: 45.555, 55.258) ( I 2 =100%, P < 0.001), respectively ( Figure 3 and Table 2 ). The average estimate of HIV associated neurocognitive disorders in studies which used International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) ( 8 , 10 , 12 – 14 , 17 , 20 , 25 , 35 – 37 , 39 , 43 , 44 , 46 , 48 – 50 , 66 ) was 36.883% (95%CI: 21.196, 52.571) and 59.956% (95%CI: 49.985, 69.928) at a cutoff points of IHDS <9.5 and IHDS <10, respectively ( Figure 4 ).…”