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Brain MRI and neuropsychological findings at long-term follow-up after COVID-19 hospitalisation: an observational cohort study.
Hellgren, Lovisa; Birberg Thornberg, Ulrika; Samuelsson, Kersti; Levi, Richard; Divanoglou, Anestis; Blystad, Ida.
  • Hellgren L; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in Jönköping, Jönköping Region, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden lovisa.hellgren@liu.se.
  • Birberg Thornberg U; Department of Rehabiliation Medicine in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
  • Samuelsson K; Department of Rehabiliation Medicine in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
  • Levi R; Department of Rehabiliation Medicine in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
  • Divanoglou A; Department of Rehabiliation Medicine in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
  • Blystad I; Department of Radiology in Linköping and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
BMJ Open ; 11(10): e055164, 2021 10 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1495477
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES:

To report findings on brain MRI and neurocognitive function, as well as persisting fatigue at long-term follow-up after COVID-19 hospitalisation in patients identified as high risk for affection of the central nervous system.

DESIGN:

Ambidirectional observational cohort study.

SETTING:

All 734 patients from a regional population in Sweden with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis admitted to hospital during the period 1 March to 31 May 2020.

PARTICIPANTS:

A subgroup (n=185) with persisting symptoms still interfering with daily life at a telephone follow-up 4 months after discharge were invited for a medical and neuropsychological evaluation. Thirty-five of those who were assessed with a neurocognitive test battery at the clinical visit, and presented a clinical picture concerning for COVID-19-related brain pathology, were further investigated by brain MRI. MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Findings on brain MRI, neurocognitive test results and reported fatigue.

RESULTS:

Twenty-five patients (71%) had abnormalities on MRI; multiple white matter lesions were the most common finding. Sixteen patients (46%) demonstrated impaired neurocognitive function, of which 10 (29%) had severe impairment. Twenty-six patients (74%) reported clinically significant fatigue. Patients with abnormalities on MRI had a lower Visuospatial Index (p=0.031) compared with the group with normal MRI findings.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this group of patients selected to undergo MRI after a clinical evaluation, a majority of patients had abnormal MRI and/or neurocognitive test results. Abnormal findings were not restricted to patients with severe disease.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: BMJ Open Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjopen-2021-055164

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: BMJ Open Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjopen-2021-055164