University of Cincinnati study reveals neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients

Italy's University of Brescia, University of Eastern Piedmont and University of Sassari researchers conducted a study in which they investigated neurological symptoms and imaging findings in patients.

Hyderabad: Three Italian institutions along with the University of Cincinnati in a study reviewed neuroimaging and neurological symptoms of COVID-19 patients which may shed light on the virus’s impact on the central nervous system.

A Radiology journal revealed that altered mental status and stroke are the most common neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients.

Radiology assistant professor Abdelkader Mahammedi said: “Studies have described the spectrum of chest imaging features of COVID-19, but only a few case reports have described COVID-19 associated neuroimaging findings.”

“To date, this is the largest and first study in literature that characterizes the neurological symptoms and neuroimaging features in COVID-19 patients. These newly discovered patterns could help doctors better and sooner recognize associations with COVID-19 and possibly provide earlier interventions,” professor Mahammedi added.

The University of Brescia, University of Eastern Piedmont and University of Sassari researchers in Italy conducted a study in which they investigated neurological symptoms and imaging findings in patients.

Italy was the second epicentre of the spread of COVID-19, resulting in over 30,000 deaths.

The study was conducted on 725 hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection in which 108 (15%) had serious neurological symptoms and underwent brain or spine imaging. 99 per cent of patients had brain CT scans while 16 per cent had head and neck CT imaging and 18 per cent had brain MRI. The study was conducted on COVID-19 patients admitted between February 29 and April 4.

The researchers found that 59% of patients reported an altered mental state, 31% experienced stroke, 12 % experienced headache, seizure (9%) and dizziness (4%) among other symptoms.

Mahammedi said: “Of these 108 patients, 31, or 29%, had no known past medical history. Of these, aged 16 to 62 years, 10 experienced stroke and two had brain bleeds. Seventy-one, or 66%, of these patients, had no findings on a brain CT, out of which 7 of them (35%) brain MRI showed abnormalities.”

The altered mental status was more common in senior citizens, says.

"Currently, we have a poor understanding of the neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients, whether these are arising from critical illness or direct central nervous system invasion of SARS-CoV-2. We hope further study on this subject will help in uncovering clues and providing better interventions for patients,” Mahammedi further said.

Mahammedi said that there are other conditions revealed in the study which needs a lookout.

“This topic definitely needs more research,” he says.