cognitive consequences of cOViD-19: results of a cohort study from South America Consecuencias cognitivas del COVID-19: Resultados de un estudio de cohorte sudamericano

CRIVELLI, LUCÍA; CALANDRI, ISMAEL; CORVALÁN, NICOLÁS; CARELLO, MARÍA AGOSTINA; KELLER, GRETA; MARTÍNEZ, CARLOS; ARRUABARRENA, MICAELA; ALLEGRI, RICARDO

ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA

Associacao Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria

Año: 2021 vol. 80 p. 240 - 247

0004-282X

Background: Neurological and psychiatric manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported throughout the scientific literature. However, studies on post-COVID cognitive impairment in people with no previous cognitive complaint are scarce. Objective: We aim to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive functions in adults without cognitive complaints before infection and to study cognitive dysfunction according to disease severity and cognitive risk factors. Methods: Forty-five post-COVID-19 patients and forty-five controls underwent extensive neuropsychological evaluation, which assessed cognitive domains such as memory, language, attention, executive functions, and visuospatial skills, including psychiatric symptomatology scales. Data were collected on the severity of infection, premorbid medical conditions, and functionality for activities of daily living before and after COVID-19. Results: Significant differences between groups were found in cognitive composites of memory (p=0.016, Cohen´s d= 0.73), attention (p