Cognitive impairment in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia: correlation with demographic, clinical and emotional profile

Abstract

The aim: To study the structure of cognitive impairment in patients who were hospitalized with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Investigate the correlation with demographic, biochemical parameters, as well as the emotional state of the patient. Materials and methods: Cognitive functions were assessed using the MOCA test. PHQ-9 depression and GAD-7 anxiety questionnaires were used to study psychopathological symptoms. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were extracted from medical records Results: Cognitive performance is impaired in 94% of patients with COVID-19. This allows to suggest that COVID-19 has a serious impact on cognition, especially in elder people. Among different domains only visuospatial and executive functioning, abstract thinking, attention and delayed recall were severely impaired, while other domains stayed relatively intact. Patients after COVID-19 also tend to have a mild depressive and anxiety state. Anxiety levels were higher than depressive levels, but not connected to cognitive functioning. Also, there was seen a positive correlation between anxiety and pO2 and negative between anxiety and comorbid cardiac pathology. However, this requires further studies to reveal. Another interesting finding was non-linear relationship between cognitive performance and depression, that allows to suggest rapidly evolving depressive mood in persons with severe cognitive impairment after COVID-19. Cognitive and emotional state of patients after COVID-19 was also highly connected with working status. Conclusion: Significant cognitive impairment was presented in almost all patients with COVID-19. There was a selective impairment in domains of visuospatial/ executive functioning, abstract thinking, attention and delayed recall. Conclusions: Significant cognitive impairment was presented in almost all patients with COVID-19. There was a selective impairment in domains of visuospatial/ executive functioning, abstract thinking, attention and delayed recall.