Neurological and Mental Health Symptoms Associated with Post-COVID-19 Disability in a Sample of Patients Discharged from a COVID-19 Ward: A Secondary Analysis

Martina Cacciatore, Alberto Raggi, Andrea Pilotto, Viviana Cristillo, Erika Guastafierro, Claudia Toppo, Francesca G. Magnani, Davide Sattin, Arianna Mariniello, Fabiola Silvaggi, Stefano Cotti Piccinelli, Nicola Zoppi, Giulio Bonzi, Stefano Gipponi, Ilenia Libri, Michela Bezzi, Paolo Martelletti, Matilde Leonardi and Alessandro Padovani
Additional contact information
Martina Cacciatore: Neurology, Public Health Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
Alberto Raggi: Neurology, Public Health Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
Andrea Pilotto: Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Viviana Cristillo: Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Erika Guastafierro: Neurology, Public Health Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
Claudia Toppo: Neurology, Public Health Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
Francesca G. Magnani: Neurology, Public Health Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
Davide Sattin: Neurology, Public Health Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
Arianna Mariniello: Neurology, Public Health Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
Fabiola Silvaggi: Neurology, Public Health Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
Stefano Cotti Piccinelli: Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Nicola Zoppi: Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Giulio Bonzi: Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Stefano Gipponi: Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Ilenia Libri: Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Michela Bezzi: Respiratory Unit, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Paolo Martelletti: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Matilde Leonardi: Neurology, Public Health Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy
Alessandro Padovani: Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-10

Abstract: Recent studies suggest that COVID-19 survivors may experience long-term health consequences: in particular, neurological and mental health symptoms might be associated with long-term negative outcomes. This study is a secondary analysis of a larger cohort study and aims to determine the extent to which neurological and mental health sequelae are associated with survivors’ disability. Participants include COVID-19 survivors, with no pre-morbid brain conditions, who were discharged from the COVID-19 Unit of the ASST Spedali Civili Hospital between February and April 2020. At an average of 3.5 months after discharge, they were submitted to a neurological examination and completed the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS-12), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Multivariable regression analysis was carried out to analyze variables that explain WHODAS-12 variation. In total, 83 patients (63 males, average age 66.9, 95% CI: 64.2–69.7) were enrolled; average WHODAS-12 was 13.2 (95% CI: 9.7–16.6). Cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, fatigue, and hyposmia/hypogeusia explained 28.8% of WHODAS-12 variation. These findings underline the importance and need for longitudinal follow-up assessments after recovery from COVID-19 and suggest the need for early rehabilitation of residual symptoms to enhance patients’ functioning.

Keywords: COVID-19; brain impairment; disability; cognitive dysfunction; anxiety; fatigue; hyposmia; hypogeusia; WHODAS-12 (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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