COVID-19 associated acute neurological manifestations in patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

BACKGROUND COVID-19 has become a major cause of concern globally for the past couple of years considering the number of lives it has claimed. The spectrum of clinical manifestations related to nervous system ranged from ageusia, anosmia to stroke and encephalopathies. The burden of follow-up and review currently lies in front of us, considering the rise of post COVID manifestations in patients. The objective of this research is to determine the neurological complications of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. METHODS The current study is a record-based retrospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital. The records of patients admitted to the hospital between January 2021 and July 2021 were reviewed. The information was assessed and analyzed using SPSS 25.0. The results are expressed in the form of mean, standard deviation and proportions. RESULTS 1,000 patients admitted with coronavirus were assessed, and 36 patients with a neurological diagnosis available were found. The mean age was 57.1±1.6 years. Most of the neurological diagnosis included cerebrovascular accidents in 44.4% patients followed by hypokalaemia in 25% of patients. Diabetes mellitus (58.3%) and hypertension (47.2%) were found to be the major contributing co-morbidities. There was a significant association seen between the final diagnosis and the age groups (p=0.039). CONCLUSIONS This research would aid in adapting to better management guidelines as well as an integrated approach to neurovascular complications of the same in future. This is vital considering the increase in various short-term and long-terms effects being reported in the hospitals.