The state of cognitive functions in patients with coronavirus infection in the acute period of the disease (outbreaks in 2020-2022)

Abstract

To assess the state of cognitive functions in patients in the acute period of coronavirus infection with pneumonia during periods of hospitalization in 2020-2022. The study included 3 groups of people of different ages. The first and second groups are inpatients in the acute period of coronavirus infection with viral pneumonia during treatment in a hospital in Krasnoyarsk. Group 1 was hospitalized in the period December 2020 - March 2021. The second group was hospitalized in the period November 2021 - January 2022. The control group consisted of clinically healthy individuals. MMSE, MoCA, FAB, CDT were used to assess the neuropsychological status. Anxiety and depression were assessed using HADS. Patients in the groups were tested on the first day after stabilization of the condition, then again for discharge or transfer to another hospital. The control group was tested once. Statically significant cognitive impairments were detected in patients with coronavirus infection with viral pneumonia in the acute period of the disease, both at admission and at discharge, compared with the control group. Patients admitted for the period December 2020 - March 2021 had more pronounced cognitive impairment than patients admitted for the period November 2021 - January 2022. Anxiety and depression were not detected on HADS. Coronavirus infection with viral pneumonia causes cognitive impairment in patients in the acute period of the disease. The severity of changes of cognitive functions was different depending on outbreaks of infection, which may probably be due to a mutation of the virus for the period 2020-2022.