The Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Cognitive Function and the Implication for Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Sarah Houben and Bruno Bonnechère
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Sarah Houben: Scientific Direction Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Bruno Bonnechère: REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-21

Abstract: There is mounting evidence that patients with severe COVID-19 disease may have symptoms that continue beyond the acute phase, extending into the early chronic phase. This prolonged COVID-19 pathology is often referred to as ‘Long COVID’. Simultaneously, case investigations have shown that COVID-19 individuals might have a variety of neurological problems. The accurate and accessible assessment of cognitive function in patients post-COVID-19 infection is thus of increasingly high importance for both public and individual health. Little is known about the influence of COVID-19 on the general cognitive levels but more importantly, at sub-functions level. Therefore, we first aim to summarize the current level of evidence supporting the negative impact of COVID-19 infection on cognitive functions. Twenty-seven studies were included in the systematic review representing a total of 94,103 participants (90,317 COVID-19 patients and 3786 healthy controls). We then performed a meta-analysis summarizing the results of five studies (959 participants, 513 patients) to quantify the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive functions. The overall effect, expressed in standardized mean differences, is −0.41 [95%CI −0.55; −0.27]. To prevent disability, we finally discuss the different approaches available in rehabilitation to help these patients and avoid long-term complications.

Keywords: long-COVID; cognitive disorders; rehabilitation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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