•  
  •  
 

Document Type

Original Article

Abstract

Background and objective: There is a need to improve the understanding of Covid-19 neurological complications in a temporal manner. The objective of our study was to find out temporal relationship of neurological manifestations and outcome in Covid-19 Patients.

Methods: This was a multi-center observational study from six centers in Pakistan. Data of covid patients with six months follow up was retrospectively collected from the hospital records. Time periods were divided into short-term (< 1 month), medium-term (2-3 months) and long-term (>4 months). SPSS version 26.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used to analyze the data.

Results: Neurological manifestations were reported in 208 out of 905 covid patients. One-hundred-twenty-five (60%) developed neurological manifestations within one month, 62 (30%) developed within 2-3 months and 21 (10%) developed between 4-6 months. Most common manifestations within one month included cerebrovascular disease (59%), neuromuscular disorders (14%) and neuropsychiatric disorders (10%). Common manifestations in 2-3 months group included neuromuscular manifestations (32%), neuropsychiatric manifestations (19%), cerebrovascular diseases (14 %), myalgia or musculoskeletal pain (14%), and vertigo, hearing problems or tinnitus (14%). Common manifestations in 4-6 months group included neuromuscular disorders (33%) cerebrovascular diseases (19%), fatigue / malaise (9%) anosmia/dysgeusia (9%) and Bell’s palsy (25%). The long-term patients differed from the short-term patients by a mean younger age on presentation (44.7 vs. 59 years), female predominance (52% vs. 28%), higher asymptomatic Covid infection (29% vs. 14%), better clinical outcomes (mean mRS of 1.6 vs. 3), and low mortality (0 vs 18%).

Conclusion: Neurological manifestations of covid infection may differ based on time duration since infection. Vascular complications are high in early period while neuromuscular manifestations are high in late period.

Download

Included in

Neurology Commons

Share

COinS