Impact of Fatigue on Cognitive Function in Post-COVID19 Survivors

ABSTRACT

Background: Coronavirus 2 is the cause of COVID-19, a hazardous respiratory disease (SARS-CoV-2). More than 80% of hospitalized patients and 30% of COVID-19 survivors may have long-term effects. The most prevalent and incapacitating symptoms of the post-COVID-19 syndrome are thought to be fatigue and cognitive impairment. Objective: The major objective of the current study is to trace fatigue affected post-COVID survivors’ cognitive function. Subjects and Methods: In this study, 84 cases were enlisted, and they were subdivided into two groups. The study group consisted of 42 post-COVID survivors, and the control group consisted of 42 healthy individuals who were age-and sex-matched. Addenbrooke's cognitive examination revised scale, the fatigue rating scale, and the computer-based Cognitive Assessment therapy (Rehacom system) were adopted in the current study to evaluate each case. Results: A clear negative correlation was found between the FSS scores and the ACE-R (r =-0.98, p = 0.001), as well as between the FSS scores and the degree of logical thinking difficulty (r =-0.74, p = 0.001) and the FSS scores and the level of figural memory difficulty (r =-0.93, p = 0.001). Clear positive correlation were detected between the FSS scores and the first quartile response time (r = 0.94, p = 0.001), the third quartile reaction time (r = 0.96, p = 0.001), the acquisition time (r = 0.97, p = 0.001), and the solution time (r = 0.98, p = 0.001). Conclusion: In post-COVID survivors, fatigue has a major impact on cognitive abilities.