Effectiveness of the anxiolytic Anvifen in the treatment of post-COVID brain fog

Abstract

To determine the significance of anxiety disorder and comorbid disorders in patients with post-covid brain fog, to determine the effectiveness of the GABAergic nootropic drug with an anxiolytic effect - Anvifen. 92 post-COVID-19 patients with no organic brain damage who complain of brain fog 12 weeks after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Group 1 (n=40; 43.4±4.5 years) were treated at home; group 2 (n=32; 44.9±5.5 years) were treated in a hospital without oxygen support; group 3 (n=20; 45.1±4.8 years) were treated in a hospital with oxygen support. Assessment scales: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA); Trail Making Test part B (TMT-B); a scoring questionnaire for the subjective characteristics of sleep; Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). According to the indicated scales, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups, therefore, the data of all patients were combined into one group, the indicators were compared before and after treatment (Anvifen 500 mg three times a day for 21 days). Results before/after treatment: HADS anxiety 10.5 [8.5;12]/7 [5;8] (p=0.000025); HADS depression 5 [4; 7] / 4 [4; 6] (p=0.00003); MoCA 22 [21; 22] / 25 [24; 26] (p=0.00001); TMT-B 281 [279; 290] sec / 231 [220; 236] sec (p=0.00001); FAS 27 [23; 31] / 20 [23; 31] (p=0.00001); questionnaire for scoring the subjective characteristics of sleep 15 [15; 16] / 25 [25; 26] (p=0.00001); SF-36 Physical Health 43.8 [42.3; 47.4] / 53.8 [52.3; 20] (p=0.00001); SF-36 Mental Health 34 [32.5; 35] / 47 [45.5; 48] (p=0.00001). The authors conclude that anxiety disorder and asthenia play an important role in the pathogenesis of post-COVID brain fog syndrome. Anvifen effectiveness is considered from the point of view of the participation of GABAergic structures in the pathogenesis of the phenomenon under study.