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Kim S, Lee H, Lee J, Lee SW, Kwon R, Kim MS, Koyanagi A, Smith L, Fond G, Boyer L, Rahmati M, López Sánchez GF, Dragioti E, Cortese S, Shin JY, Choi A, Suh HS, Lee S, Solmi M, Min C, Shin JI, Yon DK, Fusar-Poli P. Short- and long-term neuropsychiatric outcomes in long COVID in South Korea and Japan. Nat Hum Behav 2024; 8:1530-1544. [PMID: 38918517 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01895-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
We investigated whether SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with short- and long-term neuropsychiatric sequelae. We used population-based cohorts from the Korean nationwide cohort (discovery; n = 10,027,506) and the Japanese claims-based cohort (validation; n = 12,218,680) to estimate the short-term (<30 days) and long-term (≥30 days) risks of neuropsychiatric outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with general population groups or external comparators (people with another respiratory infection). Using exposure-driven propensity score matching, we found that both the short- and long-term risks of developing neuropsychiatric sequelae were elevated in the discovery cohort compared with the general population and those with another respiratory infection. A range of conditions including Guillain-Barré syndrome, cognitive deficit, insomnia, anxiety disorder, encephalitis, ischaemic stroke and mood disorder exhibited a pronounced increase in long-term risk. Factors such as mild severity of COVID-19, increased vaccination against COVID-19 and heterologous vaccination were associated with reduced long-term risk of adverse neuropsychiatric outcomes. The time attenuation effect was the strongest during the first six months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and this risk remained statistically significant for up to one year in Korea but beyond one year in Japan. The associations observed were replicated in the validation cohort. Our findings contribute to the growing evidence base on long COVID by considering ethnic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunyoung Kim
- Department of Family Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hayeon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, South Korea.
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Jinseok Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Seung Won Lee
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Rosie Kwon
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Min Seo Kim
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ai Koyanagi
- Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lee Smith
- Centre for Health, Performance and Wellbeing, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Guillaume Fond
- Research Centre on Health Services and Quality of Life, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Laurent Boyer
- Research Centre on Health Services and Quality of Life, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Masoud Rahmati
- Research Centre on Health Services and Quality of Life, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khoramabad, Iran
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Vali-E-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Guillermo F López Sánchez
- Division of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Elena Dragioti
- Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, and Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Research Laboratory Psychology of Patients, Families and Health Professionals, Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Samuele Cortese
- Centre for Innovation in Mental Health, School of Psychology, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences (CNS and Psychiatry), Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Solent NHS Trust, Southampton, UK
- Child Study Center, Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, NYU Langone, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Jonic Area, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy
| | - Ju-Young Shin
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Ahhyung Choi
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Hae Sun Suh
- Department of Regulatory Science, Kyung Hee University Graduate School, Seoul, South Korea
- Institute of Regulatory Innovation through Science, Kyung Hee University College of Pharmacy, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sunmi Lee
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Marco Solmi
- Department of Psychiatry, SCIENCES lab, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- On Track: The Champlain First Episode Psychosis Program, Department of Mental Health, Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Clinical Epidemiology Program, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chanyang Min
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jae Il Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
- Severance Underwood Meta-Research Center, Institute of Convergence Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Dong Keon Yon
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
- Department of Regulatory Science, Kyung Hee University Graduate School, Seoul, South Korea.
- Institute of Regulatory Innovation through Science, Kyung Hee University College of Pharmacy, Seoul, South Korea.
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Paolo Fusar-Poli
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-Detection Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Outreach and Support in South-London Service, South London and Maudlsey NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilian-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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2
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Li D, Zhang X, Lu Y, Jing L, Hu H, Song Y, Wu S, Zhu W. Post-sepsis psychiatric disorder: Pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:3093-3105. [PMID: 38381393 PMCID: PMC11176234 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07409-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Post-sepsis psychiatric disorder, encompassing anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and delirium, is a highly prevalent complication secondary to sepsis, resulting in a marked increase in long-term mortality among affected patients. Regrettably, psychiatric impairment associated with sepsis is frequently disregarded by clinicians. This review aims to summarize recent advancements in the understanding of the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of post-sepsis mental disorder, including coronavirus disease 2019-related psychiatric impairment. The pathophysiology of post-sepsis psychiatric disorder is complex and is known to involve blood-brain barrier disruption, overactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter dysfunction, programmed cell death, and impaired neuroplasticity. No unified diagnostic criteria for this disorder are currently available; however, screening scales are often applied in its assessment. Modifiable risk factors for psychiatric impairment post-sepsis include the number of experienced traumatic memories, the length of ICU stay, level of albumin, the use of vasopressors or inotropes, daily activity function after sepsis, and the cumulative dose of dobutamine. To contribute to the prevention of post-sepsis psychiatric disorder, it may be beneficial to implement targeted interventions for these modifiable risk factors. Specific therapies for this condition remain scarce. Nevertheless, non-pharmacological approaches, such as comprehensive nursing care, may provide a promising avenue for treating psychiatric disorder following sepsis. In addition, although several therapeutic drugs have shown preliminary efficacy in animal models, further confirmation of their potential is required through follow-up clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayong Li
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xujie Zhang
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Yuru Lu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Liang Jing
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Hongjie Hu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Yaqin Song
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Shuhui Wu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Wei Zhu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
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Oh J, Kang J, Yon DK. Editorial: Mental Health Distress in Long COVID Condition Among the Pediatric Population: A Contemporary Medical Challenge. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024:S0890-8567(24)00264-8. [PMID: 38815619 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2024.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
As the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues, a body of emerging evidence suggests that individuals who had been infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) suffered from lingering adverse health consequences. Such long-term conditions, also known as "long COVID" or "post-acute COVID syndrome," are reported to bring both pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations.1 The most common features of long COVID include fatigue and headache, which frequently occur with neuropsychiatric impairments. Given that the onset of mental disorders occurs primarily in late childhood and adolescence, it is essential to focus on the pediatric population to determine the risk of mental disorder diagnosis following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyeon Oh
- Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jiseung Kang
- Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dong Keon Yon
- Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
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Tariq M, Mahak FNU, Kumar R, Kumar A, Kumar A, Khan J, Muhammad MA, Memon U, Maqsood KM, Tanveer FS, Gill A, Jawed A, Shrestha S, Waheed MH. Unmasking the long-term effects: unravelling neuropsychiatric and neurological consequences of COVID-19. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2024; 86:1490-1495. [PMID: 38463084 PMCID: PMC10923314 DOI: 10.1097/ms9.0000000000001624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only burdened healthcare systems but has also led to a new emerging medical enigma that is post-COVID-19 syndrome or "long COVID." Characterized by persistent symptoms that extend beyond the acute phase of the illness, long COVID has rapidly become a public health concern with ambiguous neurological and neuropsychiatric dimensions. This narrative review aims at synthesizing available research to decode the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on neurological and mental health. Drawing from a multitude of studies, this review synthesizes evidence on various neuropsychiatric and neurological symptoms, including cognitive deficits, mood disorders, and more. The narrative delves into potential pathogenic mechanisms, hoping to fill existing research gaps and offering directions for future inquiry. The objective is not just academic; it has immediate real-world implications. Understanding these long-term effects is crucial for developing effective treatments and interventions, thereby better serving the millions of individuals living with these lingering symptoms. As healthcare systems continue to grapple with the fallout from the pandemic, this review provides much-needed context and insights into an area that demands urgent research and action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahnoor Tariq
- Foundation University college of dentistry, Islamabad
| | - FNU Mahak
- Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi
| | - Rahul Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Anklesaria Hospital, Karachi
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi
| | - Anish Kumar
- Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | | | - Marvi Ali Muhammad
- Department of Accident and Emergency, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi
| | - Unaiza Memon
- Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Anosh Gill
- Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | | | - Sunita Shrestha
- Department of Neurology, Upendra Devkota Memorial, Bansbari, Khatmandu, Nepal
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Paranhos ACM, Dias ARN, Bastos TDR, Rodrigues AN, Santana KHY, Dias LHA, dos Santos LPM, Cerasi AJ, Mendes MCN, de Oliveira CL, Domingues MM, Koury GVH, Vasconcelos PFDC, Souza GS, Quaresma JAS, Falcão LFM. Persistent olfactory dysfunction associated with poor sleep quality and anxiety in patients with long COVID. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1161904. [PMID: 37250390 PMCID: PMC10213228 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1161904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Poor sleep quality have been widely reported in patients with long COVID. Determining the characteristics, type, severity, and relationship of long COVID with other neurological symptoms is essential for the prognosis and management of poor sleep quality. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at a public university in the eastern Amazon region of Brazil between November 2020 and October 2022. The study involved 288 patients with long COVID with self-report neurological symptoms. One hundred thirty-one patients were evaluated by using standardised protocols: Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Beck Anxiety Inventory, Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCRC), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). This study aimed to describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with long COVID with poor sleep quality and their relationship with other neurological symptoms (anxiety, cognitive impairment, and olfactory disorder). Results Patients with poor sleep quality were mainly women (76.3%), 44.04 ± 12.73 years old, with >12 years of education (93.1%), and had monthly incomes of up to US $240.00 (54.2%). Anxiety and olfactory disorder were more common in patients with poor sleep quality. Discussion Multivariate analysis shows that the prevalence of poor sleep quality was higher in patients with anxiety, and olfactory disorder is associated with poor sleep quality. In this cohort of patients with long COVID, the prevalence of poor sleep quality was highest in the group tested by PSQI and were associated with other neurological symptoms, such as anxiety and olfactory dysfunction. A previous study indicates a significant association between poor sleep quality and psychological disorders over time. Recent studies involving neuroimaging found functional and structural changes in Long COVID patients with persistent olfactory disfunction. Poor sleep quality are integral part of complex changes related to Long COVID and should be part of patient's clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alna Carolina Mendes Paranhos
- Health and Biological Science Center, State University of Pará, Pará, Brazil
- Tropical Medicine Center, Federal University of Pará, Pará, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Givago Silva Souza
- Tropical Medicine Center, Federal University of Pará, Pará, Brazil
- Biological Science Center, Federal University of Pará, Pará, Brazil
| | - Juarez Antônio Simões Quaresma
- Health and Biological Science Center, State University of Pará, Pará, Brazil
- Tropical Medicine Center, Federal University of Pará, Pará, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Fábio Magno Falcão
- Health and Biological Science Center, State University of Pará, Pará, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Okuda S, Qureshi ZP, Yanagida Y, Ito C, Homma Y, Tokita S. Factors Associated with Prescriptions for an Orexin Receptor Antagonist Among Japanese Patients with Insomnia: Analysis of a Nationwide Japanese Claims Database. Drugs Real World Outcomes 2023:10.1007/s40801-023-00356-4. [PMID: 36867350 PMCID: PMC9982805 DOI: 10.1007/s40801-023-00356-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have examined the prescribing patterns of orexin receptor antagonists (ORAs) in the real-world clinical setting in Japan. OBJECTIVE We sought to analyze the factors associated with ORA prescriptions for patients with insomnia in Japan. METHODS Outpatients (aged ≥ 20 to < 75 years old) prescribed one or more hypnotic for insomnia between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2020 with continuous enrollment for ≥ 12 months were extracted from the JMDC Claims Database. We performed multivariable logistic regression to identify factors (patient demographics and psychiatric comorbidities) associated with ORA prescription in new or non-new users of hypnotics (patients without or with hypnotics prescription history, respectively). RESULTS Of 58,907 new users, 11,589 (19.7%) were prescribed ORA at the index date. Male sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-1.22) and presence of bipolar disorders (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.20-1.55) were associated with greater odds of ORA prescription. Among 88,611 non-new users, 15,504 (17.5%) were prescribed ORA at the index date. Younger age and several psychiatric comorbidities, such as neurocognitive disorders (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.15-2.35), substance use disorders (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.05-1.35), bipolar disorders (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.07-1.22), schizophrenia spectrum disorders (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.14), and anxiety disorders (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.10), were associated with greater odds of ORA prescription. CONCLUSION This is the first study to determine the factors associated with ORA prescriptions in Japan. Our findings could help guide appropriate insomnia treatment using ORAs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zaina P. Qureshi
- Center for Observational and Real-world Evidence (CORE), Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ USA
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Taruffi L, Muccioli L, Mitolo M, Ferri L, Descovich C, Mazzoni S, Michelucci R, Lodi R, Liguori R, Cortelli P, Tonon C, Bisulli F. Neurological Manifestations of Long COVID: A Single-Center One-Year Experience. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2023; 19:311-319. [PMID: 36761395 PMCID: PMC9904212 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s387501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We report our single-center experience on the neurological manifestations of long COVID. PATIENTS AND METHODS This is a retrospective observational study. All consecutive patients referred to the neurological long COVID outpatient clinic of our institute from January 21 2021 to December 9 2021 underwent a general neurological objective examination. Treatments and investigations (brain MRI, neuropsychological evaluation, or others) were prescribed on an individual basis as per standard clinical practice. A follow-up visit was performed when appropriate. Descriptive statistics were presented as absolute and relative frequencies for categorical variables and as means, median, and ranges for continuous variables. RESULTS One hundred and three patients were visited (mean age 50.5 ±36 years, 62 females). The average time from acute COVID-19 infection to the first visit to our outpatient clinic was 243 days. Most patients presented with a mild form of acute COVID-19, with only 24 cases requiring hospitalization. The neurological symptoms mostly (n=70/103, 68%) started during the acute phase (before a negative swab for SARS-CoV-2). The most frequent acute manifestations reported, which lately became persistent, were fatigue (n=58/103, 56%), olfactory/taste dysfunction (n=58/103, 56%), headache (n=47/103, 46%), cognitive disorders (n=46/103, 45%), sleep disorders (n=30/103, 29%), sensitivity alterations (n=29/103, 28%), and dizziness (n=7/103, 7%). Tremor was also reported (n=8/103, 7%). Neuropsychological evaluation was performed in 30 patients and revealed alterations in executive functions (n=6/30, 20%), memory (n=11/30, 37%), with pathological depressive (n=9/30, 30%) and anxiety (n=8/30, 27%) scores. Brain MRIs have been performed in 41 cases, revealing nonspecific abnormal findings only in 4 cases. Thirty-six patients underwent a follow-up, where a general improvement was observed but rarely (n=2/36) a complete recovery. CONCLUSION The majority of patients presenting persistent neurological symptoms (most frequently fatigue, cognitive disorders, and olfactory dysfunctions) developed a previous mild form of COVID-19. Further studies are required to develop therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Taruffi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Muccioli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Micaela Mitolo
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Ferri
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Carlo Descovich
- Clinical Governance, Research, Education and Quality Improvement Unit, AUSL Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Mazzoni
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Raffaele Lodi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rocco Liguori
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pietro Cortelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Caterina Tonon
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Bisulli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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