ABSTRACT
Background & Objective: The late-term neurological effects of COVID-19 are not fully understood yet. Herein, we aimed to determine if COVID-19-related acute and late-term neurological symptoms exist in the patient group that differs from the general population during the pandemic period. Methods: Two hundred fifty patients with a history of COVID-19, whose treatments were completed at least one month before enrollment, were examined together with a control group consisting of 150 individuals that lived in the same socio-cultural environment during the same period. A survey that included questions about possible neurological symptoms that might be related to the COVID-19 infection was completed in both groups. Results: The patient and control groups were mostly similar regarding the neurological symptoms in the pre-pandemic period. The control group did not report any new symptoms except ageusia during the pandemic period. Whereas a number of neurological symptoms such as headache, ageusia and anosmia, difficulty in thinking and planning, forgetfulness, clumsiness of one or both hands, dizziness, unsteadiness, numbness in both hands and feet, and neuropathic pain occurred during the infection. Neurological symptoms, except headache and unsteadiness, prolonged to the late-term with a decreased prevalence. Conclusion: The emergence of new neurological symptoms during the pandemic in those with COVID-19 disease, unlike the control group, suggested that these symptoms are related to the infection itself. © 2023, ASEAN Neurological Association. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background & Objective: Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common primary headache. TTH worsens quality of life and is related to various psychosocial factors. We aimed to examine the severity of headache (intensity, frequency, and duration), analgesic use, quality of life (QoL), and the impact of COVID pandemic-induced stress in TTH patients. Method(s): TTH cases seen at neurology outpatient clinics in 15 centers in Turkey were included in the study. A questionnaire incorporating sociodemographic and medical information, headache features, sleep quality, general quality of life, and impact of the pandemic event was administered to the subjects. Result(s): A total of 975 TTH patients were evaluated. Headache severity was higher in women as well as in patients with a history of COVID-19 contact. Women, those with chronic diseases, and cases with a COVID-19 contact history had worse perceptions of quality of life and were affected to a greater extent by the pandemic. The factors affecting the impact of the pandemic were female gender and difficulty in access to health services for headache. Co-existing chronic diseases and lost productive time due to headaches were negative determinants for both QoL and the impact of the pandemic. Conclusion(s): Our results show that the COVID pandemic severely worsened the headache burden, quality of life and mental health of TTH patients. These findings can guide us in the clinical approach to TTH cases. Copyright © 2022, ASEAN Neurological Association. All rights reserved.