Mohamed E.G. Elsayed1, Samar A Amer2, Mahmoud Tarek Hefnawy4, Ines F Djelleb5, Ehab M Ishteiwy6, Mostafa Meshref7, Youmna A. Amer4, Jaffer Shah8, Eman F. Ali4, Noha A. Hashim3, Carlos Schönfeldt-Lecuona9, Ahmed Negida10
1Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Health Science, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany, 2Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, 3Department of Neurology, Zagazig University Faculty of Human Medicine, 4Zagazig University Faculty of Human Medicine, 5Faculty of Medicine, Badji Mokhtar, Annaba, 23000, Algeria, 6Albayda Medical Center (AMC), Omar-Almukhtar University, Albayad, Libya., 7Al-Azhar University, Cairo, 8Medical Research Center, Kateb University, Kabul, Afghanistan, 9Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm, Leimgrubenweg 12-14, 89075, Ulm, Germany, 10Virginia Commonwealth University
Objective:
The goal of our study was to analyze the frequency and the determinants of cognitive impairment and other associated neurological impairment among COVID-19 recovered cases four weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19 during the fourth wave of the pandemic
Background:
The fight against Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) appears to extend beyond screening and treatment of acute diseases due to its medium and long-term health consequences. Post-COVID-19 associated cognitive impairment affects the quality of life of millions of persons and implies a significant global economic burden . Furthermore, there are currently no specific treatments available.
Design/Methods:
A case-control study targeted 176 post-COVID cases and 92 age and sex matched healthy controls who met the selection criteria from three Arabic countries (Algeria, Egypt, and Libya). A well-trained physician performed the investigation using a structured and validated questionnaire.
Results:
The post-COVID-19 cases exhibit statistically significant cognitive deficits, chronic fatigue, and impairment of the senses of appetite, taste, smell, and hearing. Among the 19 post-COVID cases, the frequency of post-COVID-19 cognitive impairment is 57(32.3%) with a statistically significant higher mean age (44.6±16.9) (P<0.001) and statistically higher consumption of junk food (8.6±3.3) (P=0.04). The cognitive impairment was significantly higher among females (83.3%), non-smokers (57.9%), highly educated (76.5%), and married (63.7%).
Conclusions:
COVID-19 infection significantly increases the frequency of cognitive impairment, and neurological symptoms (smell and taste disability, chronic fatigability, and appetite disturbance) compared to a matched control. Cognitive impairment after COVID-19 is more intensive in older people, females, unemployed, smokers, having higher education, and eaters of unhealthy food.