Evaluation of neurological disorders that develop concurrently with COVID-19 pneumonia: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: During the pandemic, many neurological symptoms have been evaluated as complications of COVID-19 pneumonia. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency and characteristics of neurological findings, and their effects on the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who consulted with the Neurology department. METHODS: Data on 2329 patients who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia in our hospital were scanned. The clinical, laboratory and radiological findings relating to treatment of 154 patients who required neurological consultation were retrospectively evaluated by reviewing the clinical notes. RESULTS: The number of COVID-19 pneumonia patients who required neurological consultations while hospitalized in the ICU was 94 (61.0%). The most common symptom among these patients was hyperactive delirium. Mean age, ferritin levels and CRP values ​​of those with delirium were higher, while the mean lymphocyte percentage were lower, than those of the patients without delirium. Epileptic seizures were observed in eight patients without an epilepsy diagnosis. Two patients were diagnosed with GBS and one patient with ICU neuropathy. The D-dimer levels of patients with acute hemorrhagic CVD and the thrombocyte levels of patients with acute ischemic CVD were found to be higher than in patients without acute ischemic CVD. CONCLUSION: The proportion of patients who required neurological consultations was higher in the ICUs. We observed neurological symptoms more frequently in the advanced age group. There were no significant increases in the incidence of other neurological conditions except delirium, in COVID-19 patients. We think that further studies are needed to support our data.

Assessment of Psychological Responses and Related Factors of Discharged Patients Who Have Been Hospitalized with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is the biggest pandemic of the last century. While a large number of cases and mortality rates direct the research to the clinic and prognosis of the disease, the mental health of these patients has recently become a matter of concern. This study aims to predict psychiatric morbidity and possible associated markers in COVID-19 survivors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 102 survivors with COVID-19 infection participated in this study. A questionnaire was applied to the participants to evaluate demographic variables, history of comorbid diseases, smoking, loss of a relative due to COVID-19, and environmental attitudes after the discharge. Length of hospitalization, lung findings, intensive care history and treatments were recorded. Psychiatric morbidities were evaluated with General Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and The National Stressful Events Survey PTSD Short Scale. RESULTS: Anxiety was found in 20.6%, depression in 13.7% based on moderate and above levels, 21.6% had significant PTSD. Female gender, history of psychiatric and comorbid diseases, smoking, perceived discrimination, and lack of long-lasting immunity posed a risk in terms of psychological response. There was a negative correlation between age and depression scores. No relation was found between the duration of hospitalization, presence of lung involvement, receiving intensive care treatment, losing a relative due to COVID-19 and psychological response. CONCLUSIONS: On patients treated for COVID-19 infection, psychological response continue after discharge. Mental health support and efforts to reduce stigma among infected subjects can reduce the psychological impact caused by the pandemic.

COVID-19 anxiety and hygiene status in vocational schools of health services students in Turkey: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: While the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic creates fear and anxiety on the students' academic achievement, the risk of an infectious disease may negatively affect education by reducing the concentration ability of students. Thus, it is essential to evaluate the knowledge, behaviors, anxiety levels, and hygiene status of students. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, behavior change, anxiety, and hygiene status of university students about COVID-19. METHODS: The investigation was conducted with students of three vocational schools of health services located in different provinces of Turkey (n = 1055). Data collected by an online survey consisted of knowledge questions about COVID-19, items about behavior change, the hygiene behavior scale (HBS), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) scale. RESULTS: The knowledge scores of women were significantly higher than the scores of men. Of the students, 59.6%showed positive hygiene behaviors, and 31.5%had anxiety. Female students' total HDC scale score was significantly lower than that of men, and the total HDC scale score of those who received hand hygiene education was significantly lower than that of participants who did not receive training, which shows a positive hygiene behavior. The total GAD-7 scale score of women was significantly higher than that of men. More than half of the students showed positive hygiene behaviors, and about a third had anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the study's results, psychological support and training should be provided to students.