Abstract Details

There were the firsts reports of unexplained pneumonia from Wuhan, China, caused by SARS-CoV-2 and The World Health Organization named the disease COVID-19. Neurological manifestation increased reports, including the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system manifestations.

To study the neurologic manifestations in the acute phase and convalescence of COVID-19.

We performed a descriptive, prospective, longitudinal study at Nationale Institute of Nutrition and Medical Sciences, a COVID center in Mexico. We followed-up COVID 19 (positive PCR and hospitalization, from 23rd March until 30th June 2020). We recollected data and interviewed them in the first month after egress.

We included 1072, median age was 53.2 years, 65% males, risk factors were obesity/overweight 83.8%, hypertension 30.3%, diabetes 27.9%. 163 developed neurological events, 12.6% delirium, miopaty 4.1%, awakening disturbances 3.4%, seizures 0.8%, stroke 0.8% and encephalities 0.2%.  23.3% ingresed UCI, 71.8% with neurological events (p<0.001), delirium was 82.8%.

In the follow up, we reach out 432 (53.4%), the most common symptoms were depressive symptoms 51.2%, limb weakness 46.8%, inadequate sleep quality 63.5%, sensory involvement (parestesias 39.6%), lack of concentration 36.2%, gait abnormality 31.1%, dizziness 31.1%, taste impairment 30.8%, cephalea 27.2%, smell impairment 26.5%, tremmor 32.8%, visual impairment 17.5% and seizure 0.7%. Weakness in daily activity 84.7%, in the UCI group (97.8%) (p <0.005).

The patients in UCI had more prevalence of inadequate sleep quality, gait abnormality, dysphagia, dizziness, limb weakness, sensory involvement (paresthesias), taste impairment, with p<0.005.

The disability by discharge was 24%; in the subgroup with neurological events, disability was more frequent (p<0.05).

Neurological manifestations in SARS-CoV-2 as initial symptom, at hospitalization and after one month, represent one of this disease’s essential part. Were prevalent more in the UCI patients and with severe COVID 19. This association between COVID severity and neurological manifestations is also present in the follow up.