Computerized Cognitive Testing in Long COVID Patients With Prolonged Symptoms of Brain Fog and Cognitive Impairment
Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine
; 33(3):303-304, 2023.
Article
in English
| EMBASE | ID: covidwho-2325857
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
To identify cognitive impairments in patients (pts) with long COVID using the Cambridge Brain Sciences (CBS) computerized cognitive test (CCT) commonly used to evaluate cognitive function after concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Method(s) Retrospective review from May 2021-Sept 2022 of 16 (4 male, 12 female) patients with long COVID, ages 13- 66 (avg 46), with average of 10 months from COVID infection to time of evaluation. Cognitive (cog) performance and concussion profile symptom scores were assessed with CBS CCT and the Concussion Clinical Profiles screening tool (CP screen) respectively. Result(s) The total CP symptom score average was 34/89 (ranging 7-68) in the cohort. The predominant profile was cog fatigue scoring (1.8/3) on average. CBS CCT tested cog impairment (CI) and was divided into 5 categories (0-4) no CI, borderline (scores between the 21st-30th percentile), mild (1 test < / = 20th percentile), moderate (2-3 tests < / = 20th percentile), and severe CI (>3 tests,/520th percentile). Data showed 2/16 (13%) patients had no CI, 5/16 (31%) had borderline CI, 5/16 (31%) had mild CI, 3/16 (19%) had moderate CI, and 1/16 (6%) pts had severe CI. Although not significant, there was a positive correlation between CI and cog profile score (P = 0.3149) when performing a linear regression test. Deficits were most common in the CBS CTT composites of grammatical reasoning/verbal processing and attention, with 4/16 patients scoring < 20th percentile for each test. The lowest average percentile scores for the cohort were in visuospatial processing and verbal short-term memory. Conclusion(s) Most long COVID patients assessed with CCT demonstrated signs of CI, in particular in verbal processing and memory, followed by visual processing. In addition to the CCT results illustrating CI, the top CP profile of cognitive fatigue in this cohort suggests that the brain fog experienced by long COVID patients may be quantified.Significance:
CCT may be a useful tool in assessing and quantifying those with Long COVID with chronic symptoms of cognitive fog, fatigue, or impairment. Targeted interventions aimed at specific deficits can aid in treatment and recovery.
adult; attention; clinical article; clouding of consciousness; cognitive defect; cohort analysis; concussion; conference abstract; controlled study; coronavirus disease 2019; fatigue; female; human; linear regression analysis; long COVID; male; memory; mental performance; mild cognitive impairment; quantitative analysis; reasoning; retrospective study; short term memory; vision
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
EMBASE
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Language:
English
Journal:
Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
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