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. 2021 Nov 4;26(6):237-243.
doi: 10.1097/NRL.0000000000000379.

Neurological Symptoms and Diagnoses in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19: Relationships With Mortality

Cemile Haki  1 , Hakan Demirci  2 , Yavuz Ayar  3 , Canan Demir  4 , Gulbahar Caliskan  5
Affiliations

Neurological Symptoms and Diagnoses in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19: Relationships With Mortality

Cemile Haki et al. Neurologist. .

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease that affects many organs, especially the lung, and may lead to multiorgan failure. Studies describing neurological dysfunctions involving the central and peripheral nervous systems have emerged. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the neurological signs and symptoms in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Methods: The data of 290 patients admitted to our center (ward and intensive care unit) who received a diagnosis of COVID-19 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients' demographic, clinical and laboratory data, and their neurological diseases, symptoms, and complications were compared.

Results: Male sex, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and having a history of neurological disease were associated with increased mortality in patients with COVID-19. Seizures and altered consciousness were also found to be more common in patients who died. In addition, lower platelet counts (P=0.001), higher C-reactive protein levels (P<0.001) and higher D-dimer levels (P=0.003) were associated with increased risk of mortality.

Conclusions: We believe that close monitoring of any possible neurological manifestations is mandatory in hospitalized patients at the onset of COVID-19 and during disease progression. Clinical findings such as neurological symptoms and acute phase reactants are important in the follow-up and treatment of the disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Neurological disease history of the groups. ICU indicates intensive care unit.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Sex distribution of the groups. ICU indicates intensive care unit.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Platelets in the groups. ICU indicates intensive care unit. *P=0.006.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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