COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS AMONG PATIENTS WHO RECOVERED FROM COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread, causing a worldwide pandemic and affecting multiple organs and systems. The possible long-term sequelae of COVID-19 have become an increasing concern. Currently, little information exists about prolonged COVID-19 affects related to cognitive functions.
 Objective: The study aimed to investigate the cognitive functions of patients who recovered from COVID-19 at least three months after the diagnosis.
 Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate cognitive functions among 150 employees of Buddhasothorn Hospital, Chachoengsao, Thailand. Of these, 75 employees had a history of COVID-19 at least three months after the diagnosis. Demographic characteristics were recorded and screened for depression, anxiety and insomnia. They were tested for their cognitive functions using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and compared with 75 employees without a history of COVID-19.
 Results: All postCOVID-19 cases presented mild COVID-19 symptoms. The results showed that 96% of COVID-19 in both groups, cases and the healthy group, had normal cognitive functions using the MoCA that did not significantly differ. However, the depression score in the postCOVID-19 cases was significantly higher than that of the participants without a history of COVID-19 (1.09 ± 1.36 and 0.61 ± 1.09, respectively (p = 0.018). Regression analysis between the postCOVID-19 cases and depression using multivariate analysis showed that the postCOVID-19 cases were associated with depression scale (β coefficient=0.470; 95%CI: 0.073, 0.867, respectively), after adjusting for age, sex, educational level and underlying diseases.
 Conclusion: The cognitive functions of employees having a history of COVID-19 and without infection did not differ.