Neurological manifestations in COVID-19 survivors: Observations in one of the largest only COVID-19 centers in México.
Raul Anwar Garcia Santos1, Mónica Saray Rodríguez Rodríguez 1, Diana Sarai Lopez Hernandez1
1Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias
Objective:
To describe the neurological complications in COVID-19 survivors 3 months after hospital discharge
Background:

Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2019 of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) persistent symptoms are being reported among COVID-19 survivors, our objective is to report neurological manifestations in hospitalized COVID-19 survivors.

 

Design/Methods:

We report the neurological sequelae observed in a cohort of 238 patients who were admitted in a single center with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19, 3 months after their hospital discharge, a complete neurological examination and MOCA cognitive screening test was performed by 2 neurologists in Mexico City from August 31, 2020 to January 8, 2021. 

Results:

In all patients, reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assays of nasopharyngeal samples were positive for SARSCoV-2. The mean age of the patients was 51 years, 97 patients (68.3%) needed mechanical ventilatory support, 52% with a periphery oxygen saturation at admission of less than 60%, 10.6% were health care workers, 8 patients has had previous neurologic disorders. The main sequels observed were sensory motor neuropathy (66.4%), myopathic pain (43. 9%), cognitive complains (59.7%) with an average MOCA of 25.5 (46.6%). 5 patients had ischemic cerebral vascular disease, 5 patients had seizures, 108 (45.6%) affective symptoms, 52.2% patients with a RANKIN less than 2.

Conclusions:
It is crucial a multidisciplinary long term follow up of the patients who survived the COVID -19 to recognize the different range of neurological sequelae; this in order to provide better clinical prognoses and to optimize the algorithms of treatment
10.1212/WNL.0000000000203852