Neuro-COVID frequency and short-term outcome in the Northern Portuguese population

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Oliveira, V (Author) Other; Seabra, M (Author) Other; Rodrigues, R (Author) Other; Carvalho, V (Author) Other; Mendes, M (Author) Other; Pereira, D (Author) Other; Caldeiras, C (Author) Other; Martins, B (Author) Other; Silva, R (Author) Other; Azevedo, A (Author) Other; Lima, MJ (Author) Other; Monteiro, C (Author) Other; Varela, R (Author) Other; Malheiro, S (Author) Other; Abreu, M (Author) Other; Elsa Azevedo (Author) FMUP; Loureiro, JL (Author) Other; Cruz, VT (Author) Other; Silva, MR (Author) Other; Magalhaes, R (Author) ICBAS; silva, mc (Author) Other; Maia, LF (Author) Other; Correia, M (Author) Other

Journal

Title: European Journal of Neurology

ISSN: 1351-5101

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 6 Citations

Scopus - 9 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-Z2V

DOI: 10.1111/ene.14874

Abstract (EN): Background and purpose: COVID-19-related acute neurological phenotypes are being increasingly recognised, with neurological complications reported in more than 30% of hospitalised patients. However, multicentric studies providing a population-based perspective are lacking. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicentric study at five hospitals in Northern Portugal, representing 45.1% of all hospitalised patients in this region, between 1 March and 30 June 2020. Results: Among 1261 hospitalised COVID-19 patients, 457 (36.2%) presented neurological manifestations, corresponding to a rate of 357 per 1000 in the North Region. Patients with neurologic manifestations were younger (68.0 vs. 71.2 years, p = 0.002), and the most frequent neurological symptoms were headache (13.4%), delirium (10.1%), and impairment of consciousness (9.7%). Acute well-defined central nervous system (CNS) involvement was found in 19.1% of patients, corresponding to a rate of 217 per 1000 hospitalised patients in the whole region. Assuming that all patients with severe neurological events were hospitalised, we extrapolated our results to all COVID-19 patients in the region, estimating that 116 will have a severe neurological event, corresponding to a rate of nine per 1000 (95% CI = 7-11). Overall case fatality in patients presenting neurological manifestations was 19.8%, increasing to 32.6% among those with acute well-defined CNS involvement. Conclusions: We characterised the population of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Northern Portugal and found that neurological symptoms are common and associated with a high degree of disability at discharge. CNS involvement with criteria for in-hospital admission was observed in a significant proportion of patients. This knowledge provides the tools for adequate health planning and for improving COVID-19 multidisciplinary patient care.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Dissemination

No. of pages: 9