Abstract Details

Title One year follow-up of neurologic symptoms in non-hospitalized neurology outpatients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)

Topic General Neurology

Presentation(s) S49 - General Neurology (5:06 PM-5:18 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 009

Background Neurologic symptoms persist in some patients after COVID-19 infection.

Objective

We characterized the evolution of neurologic symptoms, and self-perceived recovery of non-hospitalized participants after an initial baseline evaluation for post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC).

Design/Methods In a follow-up study of a baseline cohort of SARS-CoV-2 laboratory-positive patients evaluated for PASC (November, 2020-August, 2021), 49.5% (46/93) participants completed follow-up phone questionnaires on their neurologic symptoms

Results

Mean age after initial PASC assessment was 51.1 years (SD=16.5), 63% (29/46) were female and 95% received COVID-19 vaccination. Initial PASC assessment occurred at a median of 9.5 months (IQR=8.0–11.9) after COVID-19 infection. Median time between first visit and 1 year follow-up visit was 15.4 months (IQR=14.5-16.1). Median time between symptom onset and 1-year follow-up visit was 25.8 months (IQR=23.0-17.4).

The most frequent reported symptoms at follow-up included word finding difficulty (63%), change in memory (59%), anxiety (56%), fatigue (54%), and autonomic features of the eye (54%). Of the top 5 symptoms reported at first/baseline visit, fatigue, word finding difficulty, change in memory, and difficulty sleeping were not significantly different at 1-year follow-up, and shortness of breath decreased significantly (51 vs 30%, p=0.04, McNemer’s test). Autonomic eye symptoms increased significantly (31 vs 54%, p=0.03) whereas presence of headaches (44 vs 44%, p=1.00), reports of lightheadedness (48 vs 43%, p=1.00), palpitations (24 vs 33%, p=0.15), and anosmia did not change from baseline to follow-up (p=0.44), but anosmia improve from acute infection to 1 year follow-up (70 vs 35%, p=0.0006).

Conclusions Non-hospitalized neurology outpatients with PASC continue to experience, fatigue, word finding difficulty, change in memory and headaches. More participants at follow-up reported autonomic eye symptoms suggesting that screening for dysautonomia and vision-related symptoms may be important in this clinic-based population.

Authors/Disclosures
Sujata P. Thawani, MD (NYU Neurology Associates) PRESENTER	Dr. Thawani has nothing to disclose.
Sherry Fung (NYU Langone)	Ms. Fung has nothing to disclose.
Rachel Kenney	No disclosure on file
Sara W. Hyman (new york university)	Ms. Hyman has nothing to disclose.
Samarah Ahmed	Ms. Ahmed has nothing to disclose.
Azizi Seixas	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Jennifer A. Frontera, MD (NYU Langone Health)	Dr. Frontera has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for FirstKindMedical. Dr. Frontera has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Physician Education Resource. The institution of Dr. Frontera has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Frontera has received research support from Alexion. Dr. Frontera has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.
Steven Galetta, MD, FAAN (NYU Langone Medical Center)	Dr. Galetta has nothing to disclose.
Laura J. Balcer, MD, MSCE, FAAN (NYU Grossman School of Medicine)	An immediate family member of Dr. Balcer has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Balcer has received personal compensation in the range of $50,000-$99,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society.