Cognitive impairment after ICU: Comparative study of severe post‐COVID19 patients with other causes of ICU admission

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundIt has been reported that some post‐COVID patients develop cognitive impairment once they overcome the acute condition.MethodSevere post‐COVID 19 patients admitted to hospitalization for rehabilitation between October 2020 and July 2021 were included, and the performance of a control group that had no history of COVID 19 was compared. Patients with central neurological history, disorders of consciousness, or psychiatric history were excluded. An abbreviated cognitive assessment was performed. The T test was used for continuous variables with normal distribution, and the Mann Whitney test otherwise. For dichotomous variables, the Chi test was used. Significant: p<0.05.ResultA total of 196 severe post‐COVID 19 (SCA) patients were included, 41 did not present exclusion criteria and were able to carry out the complete evaluation. The control group (C) was made up of 25 patients with similar characteristics. The median age of the PCG group was 60 years (IQ 47‐69), 56.10% male. Group C had a median age of 63 (IQ 56‐69), 80% male. The mean years of schooling was 13 years for both groups. Cognitive performance: 63.4% of the patients in the PCG group and 56% in the C group failed the initial screening test (OR 1.36; 95% CI 0.5‐3.7; p ns); 51% of the PCG group and 52% of the C group had alterations in at least 2 executive function tests (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.35‐2.62; p ns); 46.34% of the PCG group and 56% of the C group in at least 2 memory tests (OR 0.68 CI; 95% 0.25‐1.84; p ns); 34.14% of the PCG group and 40% of the C group failed in more than one domain (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.28‐2.17; p ns); 26.8% of the PCG group and 16% of the C group obtained results within normal limits (OR 1.92; 95% CI 0.5‐6.8; p ns). 7% of the PCG group had symptoms consistent with depression.ConclusionIn the groups of patients evaluated, a history of severe COVID 19 was not associated with an increase in cognitive impairment compared to the control group with other reasons for ICU admission.