Impact of COVID-19 on cognitive function of survivors after intensive care hospitalization
prospective cohort
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/ce.v30i0.96346ptKeywords:
COVID-19, Intensive Care Units, Cognition, Cognitive Dysfunction, Mental Status and Dementia TestsAbstract
Objective: To analyze the impact of COVID-19 on cognition in adults at 14, 30, and 90 days after discharge from the Intensive Care Unit.
Method: Prospective cohort study with 167 patients aged 18 years or older, assessed using Pfeiffer’s Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, with data from hospitals in the Eastern region of the state of Paraná, Brazil, between 2021 and 2022. For data analysis, Friedman’s Test was used to compare paired samples across the three collection points, and the Mann-Whitney Test was used to compare cognitive performance between men and women.
Results: The mean age was 49.3 years, with the most frequent age group being 40–49 years; 52.7% were male, and the mean length of hospitalization was 16.6 days. Cognitive alterations persisted, and female participants showed a worse recovery profile.
Conclusion: Recovery was satisfactory. Three months after ICU discharge, 4.1% of participants still presented mild impairments considering the limitations reported at the beginning of the study.
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