ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is a paucity of data on long-term neuroimaging findings from individuals who have developed the post-coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) condition. Only 2 studies have investigated the correlations between cognitive assessment results and structural MR imaging in this population. This study aimed to elucidate the long-term cognitive outcomes of participants with the post-COVID-19 condition and to correlate these cognitive findings with structural MR imaging data in the post-COVID-19 condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 53 participants with the post-COVID-19 condition underwent 3T brain MR imaging with T1 and FLAIR sequences obtained a median of 1.8 years after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. A comprehensive neuropsychological battery was used to assess several cognitive domains in the same individuals. Correlations between cognitive domains and whole-brain voxel-based morphometry were performed. Different ROIs from FreeSurfer were used to perform the same correlations with other neuroimaging features. RESULTS: According to the Frascati criteria, more than one-half of the participants had deficits in the attentional (55%, n = 29) and executive (59%, n = 31) domains, while 40% (n = 21) had impairment in the memory domain. Only 1 participant (1.89%) showed problems in the visuospatial and visuoconstructive domains. We observed that reduced cortical thickness in the left parahippocampal region (t(48) = 2.28, P = .03) and the right caudal-middle-frontal region (t(48) = 2.20, P = .03) was positively correlated with the memory domain. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that cognitive impairment in individuals with the post-COVID-19 condition is associated with long-term alterations in the structure of the brain. These macrostructural changes may provide insight into the nature of cognitive symptoms.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Cognitive Dysfunction , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Humans , Male , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/diagnostic imaging , COVID-19/psychology , Female , Middle Aged , Cognitive Dysfunction/diagnostic imaging , Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology , Cognitive Dysfunction/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Follow-Up Studies , Adult , Aged , Cerebral Cortex/diagnostic imaging , Cerebral Cortex/pathology , Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome , Neuropsychological Tests , Brain Cortical Thickness , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Introducción y objetivo: Desde el punto de vista etiológico, el hábito del tabaquismo se asocia con diversas enfermedades del sistema respiratorio, hecho que ocasiona una disminución acelerada de la función ventilatoria y la condición física. Sin embargo, esta relación ha sido poco explorada en población militar. Por tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue examinar la aptitud aeróbica en hombres jóvenes fumadores, aparentemente sanos, pertenecientes a la Escuela de Cadetes José María Córdova. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal en 43 hombres militares aparentemente sanos; 21 fumadores activos (12 meses de exposición) y 22 no fumadores, con edad promedio de 19 ± 1,1 años. La aptitud aeróbica fue estimada mediante el test de Course-Navette (test de Leger), como indicador del consumo de oxígeno máximo indirecto (VO2). Se analizó la respuesta cronotrópica en ambos grupos. Resultados: Se observaron menores valores en la aptitud aeróbica en el grupo de fumadores frente al grupo de no fumadores (44,1 ± 6,6 mL/kg-1/min-1vs. 56,6 ± 3,5 mL/kg-1/min-1; p = 0,001). Asimismo, el grupo de no fumadores presentó mayor respuesta cronotrópica respecto al grupo de fumadores (167 ± 18 lpm vs. 155 ± 20 lpm; p = 0,05). Conclusiones: La aptitud aeróbica en jóvenes fumadores militares fue significativamente menor que en el grupo de no fumadores. Su identificación temprana podría traer beneficios en la prevención de enfermedades respiratorias, que actualmente cursan con carácter de epidemia en Colombia.
Background and objective: The habit of smoking is etiologically associated with different diseases of the respiratory system. It causes an accelerated decline of the ventilatory function and fitness. However, this relationship has been little explored in military population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the aerobic fitness in young male smokers, apparently healthy belonging to the Cadet School José María Córdova. Materials and methods: An observational, descriptive and transversal study was performed. 43 military subjects, apparently healthy, participated in the study: 21 participants were active smokers (12 months of exposition), and 22 subjects were no-smokers; mean age 19 ± 1.1 years. Aerobic fitness was calculated using the Course Navette test (Leger's test), as an indirect indicator of the maximal oxygen intake (VO2max). Chronotropic response was analyzed in both groups. Results: Lower values of aerobic fitness were found in the smokers in relation to the non-smokers (44.1 ± 6.6 mL·kg-1·min-1vs. 56.6 ± 3.5 mL·kg-1·min-1; P = .0001). Non-smokers group showed a higher chronotropic response against the S group (167 ± 18 bpm vs. 155 ± 20 bpm; P = .05). Conclusion: Aerobic fitness in young military smokers was significantly lower than in the non-smokers group. Its early identification could bring benefits in the prevention of respiratory diseases, which are currently present in Colombia and are qualify as epidemic.
