Cognition and psychological well-being in adults with post COVID-19 condition and analyses of symptom sequelae.

OBJECTIVE: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic moves into its fourth year, gaining a better clinical understanding of individuals with post COVID-19 condition is paramount. The current study examined the neurocognitive and psychological status of adults with post COVID-19 condition, as well as explored the impact of high psychological burden on objective neurocognitive functioning and the relationship between subjective cognitive concerns and objective neurocognitive findings. METHOD: Valid neuropsychological assessments were completed with 51 symptomatic adults who were 297.55 days, on average, following a confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Participants completed brief self-report depression, anxiety, and PTSD questionnaires, a questionnaire with subjective ratings of cognitive abilities, and standardized neurocognitive tests that examined performance validity, attention, processing speed, verbal learning and memory, naming, visual construction, and executive functioning. RESULTS: The participants were mostly Caucasian (80.39%), middle-aged (average 47.37 years), women (82.35%), who were never hospitalized (86.27%). Despite all individuals reporting cognitive problems in daily life, mean performances on objective testing did not reveal any neurocognitive deficits (at or below the 8th percentile) at a group level. Approximately half (49.02%) of the participants reported co-occurring mental health symptoms that were considered clinically elevated based on questionnaire results. High psychological symptom burden was associated with greater subjective cognitive difficulties but did not result in neurocognitive dysfunction on objective testing. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the literature regarding post COVID-19 condition in adults including the relationship between the cognitive and psychological symptoms. Results are summarized in key clinical learning points.

Quality of life after septic illness.

PURPOSE: The study was undertaken to evaluate the quality of life of survivors of septic illness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire survey of survivors of septic illness (experimental group) and acute myocardial infarction (control group) was conducted using information from the Adult Neuropsychological History and the Sickness Impact Profile forms. Eight patients diagnosed with sepsis (using the Bone et al 1992 criteria [Bone RC, Sprung CL, Sibbald WJ. Crit Care Med 1992;20:724-726]) and 15 patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction participated in the study. RESULTS: On the Sickness Impact Profile, greater difficulty with work was reported in the sepsis group than in the cardiac control group (P < .04). When retired individuals were excluded from the analysis, individuals in the sepsis group reported more symptoms on the sensory, physical, and behavior sections of the Adult Neuropsychological History form and greater difficulty with sleep and rest, emotional behavior, body care and movement, and physical and psychosocial functioning on the Sickness Impact Profile. As well, more individuals in the sepsis than the control group endorsed symptoms related to problem solving, concentration, memory, sensory, and physical ability. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals surviving sepsis may have problems with physical, sensory, emotional, and cognitive functioning that become most apparent when involved in more challenging activities, such as working.