The risk of neurological disorder would be correlated with the level of severity of the disease.
- The term neuro-Covid refers to all attacks on the nervous system linked to the virus.
- As early as April 2020, researchers observed neurological conditions in people infected with Covid-19.
Covid-19 is not a bad cold or the flu. Since its appearance, researchers have been studying its consequences and there are many of them. Evidence of its effects on the brain is mounting. Recently, scientists have demonstrated that some of the infections lead to serious neurological disorders. Featured in Critical Care Explorations, their study shows that the virus can generate dysfunctions of the nervous system.
An international study
The scientists, affiliated with various American universities, collected data from more than 16,000 patients hospitalized following a Covid-19 infection in 179 hospitals located in 24 different countries. They found that almost 13% of patients admitted for this reason, in the first year of the pandemic, developed serious neurological conditions. In detail, 10.2% suffered from encephalopathy, brain diseases that alter the function or structure of the brain, 331 had had a stroke, 243 (1.5%) had had a stroke and 73 contracted meningitis or encephalitis. “Our results show that encephalopathy on hospital admission is present in at least 1 in 10 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, while strokes, seizures and meningitis/encephalitis were much less common on admission or during hospitalization“, details one of the authors of the study, Anna Cervantes-Arslanian.
Patients at risk, more fragile
Analysis of the data showed that patients affected by these serious neurological conditions generally suffered from more serious forms of the disease, and required intensive care. On average, the duration of their hospitalization was longer and they required respiratory assistance. The study of their medical records showed that they were more likely have comorbidities, including a history of stroke or neurological disorder. Scientists also note a higher risk of death.
Neurological disorders identified in other studies
In April, another study published in Tea Lancet, supported these results. In this work, the authors note that 34% of patients received a diagnosis of neurological or psychiatric disorders within 6 months of their infection, for 13% of them it was the first diagnosis of this type. Anxiety, mood disorders and the use of psychoactive substances are the most common. The researchers observe that the risk increases according to the severity of the disease: overall, the risk of neurological disorder is 34%, but it is 38% for hospitalized people, and 46% for those admitted to intensive care.
