Abstract Details

Title Long-COVID-19 cognitive disfunction: strain-specific effects on 452 subjects

Topic Infectious Disease

Presentation(s) S21 - Acute and Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (5:18 PM-5:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 010

Background Cognitive dysfunction (CD) is a frequent and debilitating symptom of long-COVID syndrome with a negative impact on survivors' productivity and quality of life. It is unknown whether there are strain-specific effects on cognition.

Objective Evaluate the effect of COVID-19 presumed viral strains on different cognitive domains.

Design/Methods We used the Fiocruz database (http://www.genomahcov.fiocruz.br) to separate 452 subjects (15 years of education; 88 days after diagnosis) according to the prevalent viral strain at the time of the positive COVID-19 test.
Subjects completed a neuropsychological evaluation consisting of phonetic fluency (FAS), semantic fluency (SF: animals), logic memory (immediate and late recall), Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test (copy and recall), colored trails test A and B, 9-hole peg test (dominant and non-dominant hand) and the five digits test (reading, counting, choice, alternation, inhibition, and flexibility). Test scores were converted to Z-scores using normative Brazilian tables. Global strain effects were tested using MANOVA, followed by one-way ANOVAs for each test.

Results Subjects were classified into five presumed strain groups: original (247), original+P2 (36), P2 (86), gamma+P2 (50), and delta (6). Full testing data were available for 141 subjects. MANOVA showed significant strain effects (p=0.046). However, post-hoc tests showed no strain effects on any of the cognitive tests. SF showed a marginally significant effect (n=392, p=0.056) due to better performances in the original+P2 and P2 groups. FDT reading subtest was marginally significant (n=323, p=0.073) due to better test performances in the P2 and delta groups.

Conclusions Despite the small groups with non-original strains, we suppose neurotropism regardless of different strains. As millions of survivors may present CD, there is an urgent need for health policies to provide multidisciplinary treatment and rehabilitation to improve workability and quality of life. Further studies with larger samples may disclose the protective role of vaccination in preventing CD.

Authors/Disclosures
Italo Karmann Aventurato, MD PRESENTER	Dr. Karmann Aventurato has received research support from Coordenadoria de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Ensino Superior (CAPES). Dr. Karmann Aventurato has received research support from Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP).
	No disclosure on file
Lucas S. Silva, MD (University of Campinas)	Dr. Silva has nothing to disclose.
Rafael Joao	Mr. Joao has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Mariana R. Brito, MD (Hospital De Clinicas Da Unicamp)	No disclosure on file
Fernando Cendes, MD, PhD, FAAN (Departamento de Neurologia; FCM; UNICAMP)	Dr. Cendes has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for UCB Pharma. Dr. Cendes has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for UCB Biopharma. Dr. Cendes has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for United Medical – Brazil. Dr. Cendes has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Zodiac Pharma . Dr. Cendes has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Eurofarma – Brazil . Dr. Cendes has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Epilepsia. Dr. Cendes has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Frontiers in Neurology - Epilepsy. The institution of Dr. Cendes has received research support from São Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP. The institution of Dr. Cendes has received research support from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - Brazil . The institution of Dr. Cendes has received research support from NIH.
Clarissa L. Yasuda, MD, PhD (University of Campinas)	Prof. Yasuda has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for LIBBS. Prof. Yasuda has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for ABBOTT. Prof. Yasuda has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for LIBBS.