ABSTRACT
Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world from the human, health, scientific, socio-economic, and political. In this paper we present results of an online survey applied to a university population. Material and methods: Data such as age, sex, functions, career, dependents, cohabitants and psychological aspects, habits and preventive behaviors were obtained. Results: Validated 1488 responses: 63% corresponded to female sex (SF), average age = 29.5 years (DE12.9). 70% were students and 30% teachers, managers, and others. 87% had COVID-19 pandemic concern (CPC). 41% levels of anguish (ANG), 56% anxiety (ANX), all in moderate to severe degree. 79% sleep disturbances and 65% in eating habits. Future worries (PaF) related to economic/labor aspects was the most mentioned (74%). 67% reported over-information (SInf) related to epidemiological situation. Logistic regression showed the following positive statistical relationships with RR (CI): CPC with age = 2.22 (1.52–3.24) and SInF = 4.22 (2.93–6.07);ANG with sex F = 1.40 (1.13–1.76), relaxation activity = 0.71 (0.57–0.88) and SInF = 2.91 (2.01–4.22);ANX with age = 1.75 (1.39–2.20) sex F = 1.32 (1.06–1.65), physical activity = 0.78 (0.62–0.97) and SInF = 2.72 (1.96–3.79) and sleep disturbances with: student function: = 1.78 (1.36–2.35) and SInF = 2.81 (2.01–3.92). Conclusions: This study highlights the high prevalence of potentially risky alterations to physical and psychological health during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are also high levels of worries about the future, especially involving economic/labor aspects. Therefore, active measures should be adopted early to promote comprehensive health in the general population, especially in young people and women, avoiding over-information and promoting healthy habits.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 disease has spread around the world since December 2019. Neurological symptoms are part of its clinical spectrum. Objective: To know the neurological manifestations in patients infected by COVID-19 in Argentina. Methods: Multicenter study conducted in adults, from May 2020 to January 2021, with confirmed COVID-19 and neurological symptoms. Demographic variables, existence of systemic or neurological comorbidities, the form of onset of the infection, alteration in complementary studies and the degree of severity of neurological symptoms were recorded. Results: 817 patients from all over the country were included, 52% male, mean age 38 years, most of them without comorbidities or previous neurological pathology. The first symptom of the infection was neurological in 56.2% of the cases, predominantly headache (69%), then anosmia/ageusia (66%). Myalgias (52%), allodynia/hyperalgesia (18%), and asthenia (6%) were also reported. 3.2% showed diffuse CNS involvement such as encephalopathy or seizures. 1.7% had cerebrovascular complications. Sleep disorders were observed in 3.2%. 6 patients were reported with Guillain Barré (GBS), peripheral neuropathy (3.4%), tongue paresthesia (0.6%), hearing loss (0.4%), plexopathy (0.3%). The severity of neurological symptoms was correlated with age and the existence of comorbidities. Conclusions: Our results, similar to those of other countries, show two types of neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19: some potentially disabling or fatal such as GBS or encephalitis, and others less devastating, but more frequent such as headache or anosmia that demand increasingly long-term care.