One‐year cognitive follow‐up of COVID‐19 hospitalized patients. (29th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ferrucci, Roberta; Dini, Michelangelo; Rosci, Chiara; Capozza, Antonella; Groppo, Elisabetta; Reitano, Maria R.; Allocco, Elisa; Poletti, Barbara; Brugnera, Agostino; Bai, Francesca; Monti, Alessia; Ticozzi, Nicola; Silani, Vincenzo; Centanni, Stefano; D'Arminio Monforte, Antonella; Tagliabue, Luca; Priori, Alberto
• Is Part Of: European journal of neurology. Volume 29:Number 7(2022)
• Page Start: 2006
• Page End: 2014
• Publication Date: 2022-03-29
• Subjects: COVID‐19 -- cognition -- long‐COVID -- neuropsychological evaluation; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ene.15324
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-5101

Abstract

Abstract: Background and purpose: Cognitive dysfunction has been observed following recovery from COVID‐19. To the best of our knowledge, however, no study has assessed the progression of cognitive impairment after 1 year. The aim was to assess cognitive functioning at 1 year from hospital discharge, and eventual associations with specific clinical variables. Methods: Seventy‐six patients (aged 22–74 years) who had been hospitalized for COVID‐19 were recruited. Patients received neuropsychological assessments at 5 ( n = 76) and 12 months ( n = 53) from hospital discharge. Results: Over half (63.2%) of the patients had deficits in at least one test at 5 months. Compared to the assessment at 5 months, verbal memory, attention and processing speed improved significantly after 1 year (all p < 0.05), whereas visuospatial memory did not (all p > 0.500). The most affected domains after 1 year were processing speed (28.3%) and long‐term visuospatial (18.1%) and verbal (15.1%) memory. Lower PaO2 /FiO2 ratios in the acute phase were associated with worse verbal long‐term memory ( p = 0.029) and visuospatial learning ( p = 0.041) at 5 months. Worse visuospatial long‐term memory at 5 months was associated with hyposmia ( p = 0.020) and dysgeusia ( p = 0.037). Conclusion: Our study expands the results from previous studies showing that cognitive impairment can still be observed after 1 year. Patients with severe COVID‐19 should receive periodic cognitive follow‐up evaluations, as cognitive deficits in recovered patients could have social and occupational implications. Abstract : Cognitive impairment can still be observed in almost 50% of formerly hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 at 1 year from respiratory clinical recovery. Clinicians should be aware that the ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen and hyposmia/dysgeusia might represent risk factors for the development of cognitive impairment in COVID‐19.