COVID-19 Associated Neuromuscular Disorders - An Electrodiagnostic Perspective.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to describe electrodiagnostic (Edx) findings of neuromuscular disorders (NMD) associated with COVID-19 infection. Patients with history of COVID-19 infection and neuromuscular symptoms were included. After documenting the demographics, detailed examination and nerve conduction studies / electromyography (NCS / EMG) were performed. Descriptive statistics were determined. Polyneuropathy was the most common electrophysiological diagnosis (n = 22, 40%) and amongst these, Guillian Barre Syndrome (GBS) was the most common (n = 13, 23.6%). Patients with history of invasive ventilation had 2.5 times the risk of developing myopathic disorder [OR 2.5, 95% CI 0.6 - 9.9] and 2.6 times the risk of developing neuropathic disorder than those who did not require invasive ventilation [OR 2.6, 95% CI 0.8-8.5]. Polyneuropathy is the most common NMD associated with COVID-19 infection. Patients with history of invasive ventilation after COVID-19 are susceptible to develop neuropathic disorders. Further studies are needed to establish the causality of this correlation. Key Words: Polyneuropathy, Myopathy, Moneuritis multiplex, Facial nerve palsy, Critical illness polyneuropathy / myopathy, Neuromuscular junction disorders, Guillian barre syndrome.