Spectrum of neurological manifestations among acute COVID-19 and long COVID-19 – A retrospective observational study

Abstract

Objective. Preliminary clinical data indicate that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with neurological symptoms. To compare the clinical features, imaging and treatments in patients with and without COVID-19. To compare the mortality and in-hospital stay among patients with and without COVID-19 and negative patients. Materials and methods. In this retrospective, single-center study, we included all the patients who attended the department of neurology with neurologic symptoms with confirmed COVID-19 and long COVID-19 from June 2020 to January 2021. Data on clinical signs, diagnosis, laboratory findings were collected and analyzed from the records for positive patients and compared with neurologic patients without COVID-19 admitted in the same period. Statistical analysis: The mean values between study groups were compared using an independent sample t-test and Mann Whitney u test. Categorical outcomes were compared using the Chi square test. Data was analyzed using coGuide software. Results. Headache was the common neurologic manifestation present in COVID positive patients compared to COVID negative patients (39.13%). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in baseline parameters. Laboratory parameters like CRP, Serum Ferritin, LDH, D-dimer, ESR, and IL-6 showed a significant increase in COVID positive patients (P <0.05). In-hospital mortality was more in COVID positive patients than COVID negative patients (P <0.011). Conclusion. The study showed varied neurologic symptoms in COVID patients, with headache as the common symptom. Hospital stay, morbidity, mortality, and inflammatory parameters were more in COVID positive patients compared to COVID negative patients.