FUNCIONAMENTO COGNITIVO NO LONG COVID

INTRODUCTION: Long covid constitutes a novel public health emergency arising from the covid-19 pandemic, characterized by persistent sequelae months after infection. Cognitive impairments can affect memory, language, attention, executive functions, and psychomotor skills. Beyond the detrimental impact on the population’s quality of life, the high demand for extended care gives rise to logistical challenges and substantial public resource expenditures, alongside potential economic repercussions, especially in cases involving severe sequelae that preclude a return to work. AIMS: To establish an evolving framework of the cognitive profile in patients one year after covid-19 infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a quantitative study employing an observational design. Patients assessed at a minimum of one year post-infection were invited for follow-up evaluation. The neuropsychological battery employed encompasses the following instruments: Temporal-Spatial Orientation; Verbal Fluency; Semantic Fluency; Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test; Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test; Five-Point Test; Digit Span; and Trail Making Tests A and B. Participant data underwent descriptive statistical analysis using IBM SPSS version 24, and comparisons were made against their own previous performance. RESULTS: A total of eleven participants (male=5, female=6) with a mean age of 52 years (SD=10.62) were evaluated. All patients underwent hospitalization due to covid-19, with 81.8% being referred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The average ICU stay duration was 6.4 days. There was significant improvement in participants’ retention and retrieval of information. An association between recovery of short- and long-term verbal memory and higher levels of education (p < 0.02) was observed. Improved results in short- and long-term visual memory were also evident in participants over 51 years old when compared to initial assessments (p < 0.01). Furthermore, a significant improvement in cognitive flexibility associated with higher education (p < 0.04) was noted. No significant changes were identified in language, attention, and visual functions. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The current study presents clinical findings indicating favorable spontaneous recovery of memory and executive functions within a year following Sars-CoV-2 infection. Symptomatic improvement was linked to sociodemographic factors such as age, education, hospitalization duration, and ICU stay. These findings provide insights into both similarities and unique aspects within the Brazilian population. Furthermore, the evidence aligns with studies conducted in diverse geographical regions, suggesting that cognitive sequelae post-Sars-CoV-2 infection may exhibit common patterns across different population contexts. The congruence of these results also lends greater validity and reliability to global-level discoveries.

KEYWORDS: Cognitive sequelae; Long Covid; Neuropsychology; Executive functions; Neuroscience.