![A third of patients cured of Covid-19 develop a neurological or psychiatric disorder](https://img.passeportsante.net/1000x526/2021-04-07/i101235-trouble-neurologique-psychiatrique-patients-covid-19.jpeg)
In a study the results of which were published yesterday, specialists reveal that a third of patients treated for Covid-19 presented with a diagnosis of neurological or psychiatric disorders within six months of their infection. This is the largest study to date on the mental toll of former Covid-19 patients.
34% of Covid patients have a neurological or psychiatric disorder within six months of infection
In a study published this Tuesday, April 6, 2021 in the specialized journal The Lancet Psychiatry, researchers show that one in three people who have been infected with Covid-19, presents a neurological or psychiatric disorder within six months after their infection. To reach this conclusion, the researchers analyzed the electronic health records of 236,379 patients, mostly Americans, with Covid-19.
It shows that 34% of patients presented with a diagnosis of neurological or psychiatric disease within six months of infection. The main diagnoses concerned anxiety (for 17% of them) and mood disorders (14%) but specialists also noted the presence of stroke (2.1%), dementia ( 0.7%) or cerebral hemorrhages (0.6%).
Even higher risks in patients with severe forms
The researchers also realized that the risk of developing neurological or psychiatric disorders after being infected with Covid-19 is even greater in patients who have developed severe forms of the virus and who have been hospitalized. Indeed, the authors of the study report that 46% of patients admitted to intensive care were diagnosed with neurological or psychiatric disorders six months after infection.
While mood, anxiety or psychotic disorders affect 24% of all patients observed, they increase to 25% in hospital admissions, 28% in intensive care patients and 36% in individuals suffering from delirium during their illness. As for strokes, they affected 2% of all patients with Covid-19 compared to 7% of those admitted to intensive care and 9% of those who suffered from delirium. Finally, dementia was diagnosed in 0.7% of all patients but 5% of those with delirium as a symptom.
” While the individual risks for most disorders are low, the effect on the general population can be significant for health and social care systems due to the scale of the pandemic and the fact that many of these conditions are chronic. As a result, health care systems must be resourced to meet anticipated needs, both in primary and secondary care services. »Conclude the authors of the study.