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Spectrum, risk factors and outcomes of neurological and psychiatric complications of COVID-19: a UK-wide cross-sectional surveillance study

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  • A.L. Ross Russell
  • M. Hardwick
  • A. Jeyanantham
  • S. Deb
  • G. Burnside
  • H.M. Joy
  • C.J. Smith
  • T.A. Pollak
  • T.R. Nicholson
  • N.W.S. Davies
  • H. Manji
  • A. Easton
  • S. Ray
  • M.S. Zandi
  • J.P. Coles
  • D.K. Menon
  • A. Varatharaj
  • B. Mccausland
  • M.A. Ellul
  • N. Thomas
  • G. Breen
  • S. Keddie
  • M.P. Lunn
  • J.P.S. Burn
  • G. Quattrocchi
  • L. Dixon
  • C.M. Rice
  • G. Pengas
  • R. Al-Shahi Salman
  • A. Carson
  • E.M. Joyce
  • M.R. Turner
  • L.A. Benjamin
  • T. Solomon
  • R. Kneen
  • S. Pett
  • R.H. Thomas
  • B.D. Michael
  • I. Galea
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Article numberfcab168
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>22/07/2021
<mark>Journal</mark>Brain Communications
Issue number3
Volume3
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is associated with new-onset neurological and psychiatric conditions. Detailed clinical data, including factors associated with recovery, are lacking, hampering prediction modelling and targeted therapeutic interventions. In a UK-wide cross-sectional surveillance study of adult hospitalized patients during the first COVID-19 wave, with multi-professional input from general and sub-specialty neurologists, psychiatrists, stroke physicians, and intensivists, we captured detailed data on demographics, risk factors, pre-COVID-19 Rockwood frailty score, comorbidities, neurological presentation and outcome. A priori clinical case definitions were used, with cross-specialty independent adjudication for discrepant cases. Multivariable logistic regression was performed using demographic and clinical variables, to determine the factors associated with outcome. A total of 267 cases were included. Cerebrovascular events were most frequently reported (131, 49%), followed by other central disorders (95, 36%) including delirium (28, 11%), central inflammatory (25, 9%), psychiatric (25, 9%), and other encephalopathies (17, 7%), including a severe encephalopathy (n = 13) not meeting delirium criteria; and peripheral nerve disorders (41, 15%). Those with the severe encephalopathy, in comparison to delirium, were younger, had higher rates of admission to intensive care and a longer duration of ventilation. Compared to normative data during the equivalent time period prior to the pandemic, cases of stroke in association with COVID-19 were younger and had a greater number of conventional, modifiable cerebrovascular risk factors. Twenty-seven per cent of strokes occurred in patients <60 years. Relative to those >60 years old, the younger stroke patients presented with delayed onset from respiratory symptoms, higher rates of multi-vessel occlusion (31%) and systemic thrombotic events. Clinical outcomes varied between disease groups, with cerebrovascular disease conferring the worst prognosis, but this effect was less marked than the pre-morbid factors of older age and a higher pre-COVID-19 frailty score, and a high admission white cell count, which were independently associated with a poor outcome. In summary, this study describes the spectrum of neurological and psychiatric conditions associated with COVID-19. In addition, we identify a severe COVID-19 encephalopathy atypical for delirium, and a phenotype of COVID-19 associated stroke in younger adults with a tendency for multiple infarcts and systemic thromboses. These clinical data will be useful to inform mechanistic studies and stratification of patients in clinical trials.