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. 2021 Feb 13;11(2):235.
doi: 10.3390/brainsci11020235.

Long-Lasting Cognitive Abnormalities after COVID-19

Roberta Ferrucci  1   2   3 , Michelangelo Dini  1   2   3 , Elisabetta Groppo  2 , Chiara Rosci  2 , Maria Rita Reitano  2 , Francesca Bai  2   3 , Barbara Poletti  4 , Agostino Brugnera  5 , Vincenzo Silani  1   4   6 , Antonella D'Arminio Monforte  2   3 , Alberto Priori  1   2   3
Affiliations

Long-Lasting Cognitive Abnormalities after COVID-19

Roberta Ferrucci et al. Brain Sci. .

Abstract

Considering the mechanisms capable of causing brain alterations in COVID-19, we aimed to study the occurrence of cognitive abnormalities in the months following hospital discharge. We recruited 38 (aged 22-74 years; 27 males) patients hospitalized for complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection in nonintensive COVID units. Participants underwent neuropsychological testing about 5 months after hospital discharge. Of all patients, 42.1% had processing speed deficits, while 26.3% showed delayed verbal recall deficits. Twenty-one percent presented with deficits in both processing speed and verbal memory. Bivariate analysis revealed a positive correlation between the lowest arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) to fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2) (P/F) ratio during hospitalization and verbal memory consolidation performance (SRT-LTS score, r = 0.404, p = 0.027), as well as a positive correlation between SpO2 levels upon hospital arrival and delayed verbal recall performance (SRT-D score, rs = 0.373, p = 0.042). Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) during hospitalization was associated with worse verbal memory performance (ARDS vs. no ARDS: SRT-LTS mean score = 30.63 ± 13.33 vs. 44.50 ± 13.16, p = 0.007; SRT-D mean score = 5.95 ± 2.56 vs. 8.10 ± 2.62, p = 0.029). Cognitive abnormalities can frequently be found in COVID-19 patients 5 months after hospital discharge. Increased fatigability, deficits of concentration and memory, and overall decreased cognitive speed months after hospital discharge can interfere with work and daily activities.

Keywords: COVID-19; acute respiratory distress syndrome; cognition; processing speed.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
P/F = arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2)/fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio; SRT-LTS = Serial Recall Test Long-Term Storage; SDMT = Symbol-Digit Modalities Test.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Verbal memory in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and without (no ARDS). Left: Serial Recall Test Long-Term Storage (SRT-LTS); right: Serial Recall Test Delayed Recall (SRT-D). Data are presented as a mean score with standard error. The dotted line indicates normative cutoff scores for the SRT-LTS (cutoff ≥ 23.3) and SRT-D (cutoff ≥ 4.9) subtests. Asterisks denote statistical significance (* = p < 0.05; ** = p < 0.01).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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