Short-term neuropsychiatric outcomes and quality of life in COVID-19 survivors.

R Méndez,M Berk,S.C Luperdi,R Menéndez,A Ferrando,K Yépez,A Latorre,D Hervás,I Estrada,P González‐Jiménez,S Reyes,L Bouzas,E Zaldívar,V Balanzá‐Martínez,L Feced

doi:10.1111/joim.13262

Abstract

BackgroundThe general medical impacts of coronavirus (COVID‐19) are increasingly appreciated. However, its impact on neurocognitive, psychiatric health and quality of life (QoL) in survivors after the acute phase is poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate neurocognitive function, psychiatric symptoms and QoL in COVID‐19 survivors shortly after hospital discharge.MethodsThis was a cross‐sectional analysis of a prospective study of hospitalized COVID‐19 survivors followed up for 2 months after discharge. A battery of standardized instruments evaluating neurocognitive function, psychiatric morbidity and QoL (mental and physical components) was administered by telephone.ResultsOf the 229 screened patients, 179 were included in the final analysis. Amongst survivors, the prevalence of moderately impaired immediate verbal memory and learning was 38%, delayed verbal memory (11.8%), verbal fluency (34.6%) and working memory (executive function) (6.1%), respectively. Moreover, 58.7% of patients had neurocognitive impairment in at least one function. Rates of positive screening for anxiety, depression and post‐traumatic stress disorder were 29.6%, 26.8% and 25.1%, respectively. In addition, 39.1% of the patients had psychiatric morbidity. Low QoL for physical and mental components was detected in 44.1% and 39.1% of patients respectively. Delirium and psychiatric morbidity were associated with neurocognitive impairment, and female gender was related with psychiatric morbidity.ConclusionHospitalized COVID‐19 survivors showed a considerable prevalence of neurocognitive impairment, psychiatric morbidity and poor QoL in the short term. It is uncertain if these impacts persist over the long term.

Highlights

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified in December 2019 [1]
The secondary findings were as follows: i) delirium during hospitalization and psychiatric comorbidity were associated with neurocognitive impairment; ii) and neurocognitive impairment and female gender were related to stress-related symptoms in the short-term
Our findings show a high prevalence for neurocognitive impairment (58.7%), immediate verbal memory/learning (38%), delayed verbal memory (11.8%), semantic verbal fluency (34.6%), and executive function (6.1%) in a mild to severe cohort

Summary

Introduction

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified in December 2019 [1]. Its impact on neurocognitive, psychiatric health and quality of life (QoL) in survivors after the acute phase is poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate neurocognitive function, psychiatric symptoms, and QoL in COVID-19 survivors shortly after hospital discharge. Female gender and neurocognitive impairment diagnosis were related with an increase of 2.5 and 4.56fold odds respectively of psychiatric morbidity. Interpretation: Hospitalized COVID-19 survivors showed a high prevalence of neurocognitive impairment, psychiatric morbidity, and poor QoL in the short-term. It is uncertain if these impacts persist over the long-term

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