EEG findings and clinical prognostic factors associated with mortality in a prospective cohort of inpatients with COVID-19. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Skorin, Ilona; Carrillo, Rogelio; Perez, Carmen P.; Sanchez, Natalie; Parra, Jorge; Troncoso, Patricia; Uribe-San-Martin, Reinaldo
• Is Part Of: Seizure. Volume 83(2020)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 4
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Electroencephalogram -- Mortality; Epilepsy -- Periodicals; Epilepsy -- Periodicals; Seizures -- Periodicals; Épilepsie -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 616.853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2020.10.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1059-1311

Abstract

Highlights: Multicentric prospective observational study of 94 EEG in 62 patients with COVID-19. The most frequent EEG finding was generalized slow-wave activity (66 %). Epileptiform activity (19 %) included NCSE, seizures and interictal discharges. Mortality was increased in patients with cancer comorbidity. Mortality was increased in patients who required an EEG during the 3 rd week. Abstract: Purpose: Our objective is to describe the most prevalent electroencephalographic findings in COVID-19 hospitalized patients, and to determine possible predictors of mortality including EEG and clinical variables. Methods: A multicentric prospective observational study in patients with COVID-19 requiring EEG during hospitalization. Results: We found 94 EEG from 62 patients (55 % men, mean age 59.7 ± 17.8 years) were analyzed. Most frequent comorbidity was cardiac (52 %), followed by metabolic (45 %) and CNS disease (39 %). Patients required ICU management by 60 %, with a mortality of 27 % in the whole cohort. The most frequent EEG finding was generalized continuous slow-wave activity (66 %). Epileptic activity was observed in 19 % including non-convulsive status epilepticus, seizures and interictal epileptiform discharges. Periodic patterns were observed in 3 patients (3.2 %). Multivariate analysis found that cancer comorbidity and requiring an EEG during the third week of evolution portended a higher risk of mortality Conclusion: We observed that the most prevalent EEG finding in this cohort was generalized continuous slow-wave activity, while epileptic activity was observed in less than 20 % of the cases. Mortality risk factors were comorbidity with cancer and requiring an EEG during the third week of evolution, possibly related to the hyperinflammatory state.