AUTHOR=Cian Veronica , De Laurenzis Alessandro , Siri Chiara , Gusmeroli Anna , Canesi Margherita 

TITLE=Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric Features of COVID-19 Patients After Hospital Dismission: An Italian Sample

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.908363

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.908363

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Background and aims: Recent studies suggest cognitive, emotional and behavioral impairments occur in patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, studies are limited to case reports or case series and, to our knowledge, few of them have control groups. This study aims to assess the prevalence of neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric impairment in patients after hospitalization.
Methods: We enrolled 29 Covid+ patients (M/F:17/12; age 58,41±10,00 yrs; education 11,07±3,77 yrs, 2 left handers) who needed hospitalization but no IC, about 20 days post dismission, and 29 Covid- healthy matched controls. Neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric assessments were conducted via teleneuropsychology using the following tests: MMSE, CPM47, RAVLT, CDT, Digit-Span Forward/Backward, Verbal fluencies; BDI-II, STAI. People with previous reported cognitive impairment, neurological or psychiatric conditions were excluded. Clinical and demographics were collected. Comparison between groups were conducted using parametric or non parametric tests according to data distribution (T-test, Mann Withney-U test; Chi Square goodness of fit). Within Covid+ group we also evaluated the correlation between the cognitive and behavioral assessment scores and clinical variables collected. 
Results: Among Covid+, 62% had at least one pathological test (vs 13% in Covid-; p=0,000) and significantly worst performances than Covid- in RAVLT learning (42,55±10,44 vs 47,9±8,29 p=0,035), RAVLT recall (8,79±3,13 vs 10,38±2,19 p=0,03) and recognition (13,69±1,47 vs14,52±0,63, p= 0,07). STAI II was higher in Covid- (32,69±7,66 vs 39,14±7,7 p=0,002). Chi square on dichotomous values (normal/pathological) showed a significant difference between groups in Digit backward test (pathological 7/29 Covid+ vs 0/29 Covid-; p=0.005). 
Conclusions: Patients Covid+ assessed by teleneuropsychology showed a vulnerability in some memory end executive functions (working memory, learning, delayed recall and recognition).  Intriguingly, anxiety was higher in the control group. Our findings therefore confirm an impact of Covid-19 on cognition even in patients who did not need IC. Follow-up is needed to evaluate the evolution of Covid19 related cognitive deficit.