Post-COVID-19 Syndrome is Rarely Associated with Damage of the Nervous System: Findings from a Prospective Observational Cohort Study in 171 Patients.
COVID-19
Fatigue
Long COVID
Neurological deficits
Neuropsychological assessment
Post-COVID
Somatization
Journal
Neurology and therapy
ISSN: 2193-8253
Titre abrégé: Neurol Ther
Pays: New Zealand
ID NLM: 101637818
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Dec 2022
Dec 2022
Historique:
received:
26
05
2022
accepted:
03
08
2022
pubmed:
27
8
2022
medline:
27
8
2022
entrez:
26
8
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can affect multiple organs. Reports of persistent or newly emergent symptoms, including those related to the nervous system, have increased over the course of the pandemic, leading to the introduction of post-COVID-19 syndrome. However, this novel syndrome is still ill-defined and structured objectification of complaints is scarce. Therefore, we performed a prospective observational cohort study to better define and validate subjective neurological disturbances in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. A total of 171 patients fulfilling the post-COVID-19 WHO Delphi consensus criteria underwent a comprehensive neurological diagnostic work-up including neurovascular, electrophysiological, and blood analysis. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and lumbar puncture were conducted in subgroups of patients. Furthermore, patients underwent neuropsychological, psychosomatic, and fatigue assessment. Patients were predominantly female, middle-aged, and had incurred mostly mild-to-moderate acute COVID-19. The most frequent post-COVID-19 complaints included fatigue, difficulties in concentration, and memory deficits. In most patients (85.8%), in-depth neurological assessment yielded no pathological findings. In 97.7% of the cases, either no diagnosis other than post COVID-19 syndrome, or no diagnosis likely related to preceding acute COVID-19 could be established. Sensory or motor complaints were more often associated with a neurological diagnosis other than post-COVID-19 syndrome. Previous psychiatric conditions were identified as a risk factor for developing post-COVID-19 syndrome. We found high somatization scores in our patient group that correlated with cognitive deficits and the extent of fatigue. Albeit frequently reported by patients, objectifiable affection of the nervous system is rare in post-COVID-19 syndrome. Instead, elevated levels of somatization point towards a pathogenesis potentially involving psychosomatic factors. However, thorough neurological assessment is important in this patient group in order to not miss neurological diseases other than post-COVID-19.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36028604
doi: 10.1007/s40120-022-00395-z
pii: 10.1007/s40120-022-00395-z
pmc: PMC9417089
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
1637-1657Commentaires et corrections
Type : CommentIn
Informations de copyright
© 2022. The Author(s).
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