Persistent emotional stress, fatigue and impaired neurocognitive function in recovered COVID-19 patients: a longitudinal prospective study

Abstract

Introduction Several surveys report that post-COVID-19 patients (pts) could be at risk of persistent emotional distress, fatigue and impaired neurocognitive function (NCF). Objectives The aim was to assess emotional distress, fatigue and NCF in order to provide adequate care. Methods Patients with persistent physical or mental symptoms, at least 8 weeks post-COVID-19, were eligible for this ongoing prospective longitudinal single center trial. Data on depression, anxiety, cognition, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and fatigue were collected using 4 validated questionnaires at study entry (T0) and at 6 months (T1). Results Ninety-three pts were recruited between November 2020-March 2021. Test results from 64 eligible pts (15 male pts) were analyzed at T0; 63 pts (98%) were treated in outpatient settings. Median age was 47 years [range 27-75]). Median time since COVID-19 was 29 weeks [range 8-53]. Twenty-two pts (34%) had a history of psychiatric disorders. According to the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), 44 pts (73%) reported anxiety symptoms and 26 pts (41%) reported depressive symptoms; 48 pts (69%) reported cognitive complaints according to the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire and 29 pts (45%) suffered from PTSS, according to the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C). Fifty-five pts (86%) had an elevated score on the Fatigue Severity Scale, indicating severe fatigue. Twenty-seven pts (42%) were still on sick leaf. Diminished social support and psychiatric history were predictive factors for neurocognitive dysfunction and PTSS. Conclusions A majority of patients who recovered physically from COVID-19, are at risk for suffering from persistent anxiety, PTSS and neurocognitive dysfunction. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• Covid-19
• cognitive function
• post-traumatic stress symptoms
• Anxiety