Cogni̇ti̇ve functi̇ons after COVID-19 i̇nfecti̇on

OBJECTIVE: One of the important symptoms of Long COVID, which is thought to occur as a result of some symptoms taking longer than expected after COVID-19, is cognitive problems. It is still not clear which cognitive domains are affected weeks or even months after the disease. Most of the studies in this area are carried out during or immediately after the disease, and we have little information on whether cognitive problems occur after the disease has regressed. In addition, the neuropsychiatric assessment in current studies does not cover different aspects of cognitive functions. In this study, it was aimed to comprehensively evaluate the cognitive functions of individuals after COVID-19, at least 6 months after the disease. METHODS: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate cognitive functions 6 months after the COVID-19 in patients that were folluwed-up by the Istanbul Medical Faculty COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic. We obtained a case list including patients whom early signs are anosmia. Also, information including pulmonary involvement, ensephalopaty, hypoxia and intubation history. A total of 135 people with these characteristics were included in the study. Beck Anxiety Scale and Beck Depression Scale were applied to the participants. For neuropsychiatric evaluation, Wechsler Memory Scale Enhanced Form-Number Range Sub- Scale, Stroop Test, Tracing Test, Clock Drawing Test, Verbal Fluency Test, Öktem Verbal Memory Processes Test were used. RESULTS: The instant memory score was lower in the inpatient group in the Öktem Memory Processes Test compared to the outpatient group, and the difference was statistically significant (Odds Ratio: 0.62, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.44-0.87, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: Long term cognitive problems which are frequently detected in Long COVID, is supported by our study. After 6 months, it was observed that there were problems in learning and recording information, and memory in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. In future studies, it is important to examine whether cognitive symptoms persist in a longer follow-up period.