Cognitive and behaviorial features of COVID-19 patients in post-acute phase

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore cognitive/behavioral features With in two months from hospital discharge in a cohort of patients with COVID-19. Background: Although the epidemiological and clinical features of COVID-19 patients are well characterized, the psychological impact of SARS-CoV-2 has been given little attention. Design/Methods: 49 patients with confirmed COVID-19 underwent neuropsychological assessment With in two months from hospital discharge. The presence of mood alterations and/or features of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was also investigated. The total sample was split based on age (yC-19, age<50 N=8;mC-19, age range 50-64 N=21;oC-19, age≥65 N=20) and the frequencies of cognitive and behavioral alterations were reported for the total sample and each sub-group. Correlations were tested between neuropsychological scores and the severity of respiratory symptoms at hospital admission. Results: 5 patients (1 yC-19, 4 mC-19) presented with depressive symptoms and 9 (3 yC-19, 4 mC-9, 2 oC-19) reported PTSD features. 45% of the total sample showed executive dysfunctions and difficulties in encoding new verbal material;30% showed visuospatial difficulties, and 25% long-term verbal and nonverbal memory problems. No patients showed language disturbances. Specifically, the yC-19 group showed the worst profile, with 60-75% patients showing executive dysfunctions and encoding difficulties, 50% pure visuospatial dysfunctions and 40% primary long-term memory problems. The mC-19 group showed primary executive (>40%) and visuospatial (25%) dysfunctions. 40% of the oC-19 group showed executive dysfunctions, 30% poor visuospatial abilities, and 25% long-term memory problems. The total sample showed a negative relationship between frontal executive performances and severity of acute-phase respiratory symptoms at hospital admission. Conclusions: With in two months from hospital discharge, cognitive/behavioral alterations are associated with COVID-19 infection, with more severe outcomes in the youngest group. Whether these alterations are linked with the infection itself or with its related consequences has to be determined, as well as whether they are reversible or part of a neurodegenerative process.