Cognitive and Behaviorial Features of COVID-19 Patients in Post-Acute Phase

Objective: To explore cognitive/behavioral features within two months from hospital discharge in a cohort of patients with COVID-19. Background: Although the epidemiological and clinical features of COVID-19 patients are well characterized, the psychological impact of SARS-CoV-2 has been given little attention. Design/Methods: 49 patients with confirmed COVID-19 underwent neuropsychological assessment within two months from hospital discharge. The presence of mood alterations and/or features of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was also investigated. The total sample was split based on age (yC-19, age Results: 5 patients (1 yC-19, 4 mC-19) presented with depressive symptoms and 9 (3 yC-19, 4 mC-9, 2 oC-19) reported PTSD features. 45% of the total sample showed executive dysfunctions and difficulties in encoding new verbal material; 30% showed visuospatial difficulties, and 25% long-term verbal and nonverbal memory problems. No patients showed language disturbances. Specifically, the yC-19 group showed the worst profile, with 60–75% patients showing executive dysfunctions and encoding difficulties, 50% pure visuospatial dysfunctions and 40% primary long-term memory problems. The mC-19 group showed primary executive (>40%) and visuospatial (25%) dysfunctions. 40% of the oC-19 group showed executive dysfunctions, 30% poor visuospatial abilities, and 25% long-term memory problems. The total sample showed a negative relationship between frontal executive performances and severity of acute-phase respiratory symptoms at hospital admission. Conclusions: Within two months from hospital discharge, cognitive/behavioral alterations are associated with COVID-19 infection, with more severe outcomes in the youngest group. Whether these alterations are linked with the infection itself or with its related consequences has to be determined, as well as whether they are reversible or part of a neurodegenerative process. Disclosure: The institution of Elisa Canu has received research support from Italian Ministry of Health . Federica Agosta has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Philips. Federica Agosta has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Elsevier INC. Alessandra Barbieri has nothing to disclose. Maria Paola Bernasconi has nothing to disclose. Giordano Cecchetti has nothing to disclose. Marco Vabanesi has nothing to disclose. Veronica Castelnovo has nothing to disclose. GIACOMO GIACALONE has nothing to disclose. Monica Falautano has nothing to disclose. Patrizia Rovere-Querini has nothing to disclose. Luisa Roveri has nothing to disclose. Dr. Filippi has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Bayer, Biogen Idec, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, Takeda, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. Dr. Filippi has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Bayer, Biogen Idec, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, Takeda, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. Dr. Filippi has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Springer Nature. The institution of Dr. Filippi has received research support from Biogen Idec, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Roche, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Italian Ministry of Health, Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla, and ARiSLA (Fondazione Italiana di Ricerca per la SLA).