Nervous System Involvement in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19

Abstract

Background COVID-19 patients with neurological manifestations have poorer outcomes. We investigated the association between clinicodemographic and laboratory findings with poorer outcomes among COVID-19 inpatients with neurological manifestations. Methods This was a retrospective study of consecutive medical records (March–April 2020). Neurological manifestations (altered level of consciousness, acute cerebrovascular disease, ataxia, seizure, headaches, dizziness/vertigo, muscle weakness, and peripheral neuropathies) were categorized into serious and nonserious. Results Of 119 COVID-19 inpatients, 38 with neurological manifestations were included (age, 63.7 ± 13.4 years; male, 65.8%), of whom 27 (71.1%) had serious manifestations. Muscle weakness (57.9%), impaired consciousness (47.4%), and acute cerebrovascular disease (23.7%) were the most frequent manifestations. The in-hospital mortality rate was 28.9%. Patients with serious manifestations were significantly older (66.9 vs 55.7, P = 0.018), with significantly higher white blood cell count (6.8 vs 5.1 × 103/μL, P = 0.023), direct bilirubin (0.3 vs 0.2 mg/dL, P = 0.030), prothrombin time (PT) (15.4 vs 14.4 seconds, P = 0.006), international normalized ratio (1.2 vs 1.1, P = 0.005), and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores (10 vs 7, P = 0.011), compared with those with nonserious manifestations. In addition, the nonsurvivors had higher potassium (4.5 vs 4.0 mEq/L, P = 0.021), total bilirubin (1.1 vs 0.6 mg/dL, P = 0.008), and MELD scores (12 vs 8, P = 0.025) compared with the survivors. After adjustment, we found significant impacts of age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.11; P = 0.032), PT (aOR, 5.04; P = 0.019), and MELD score (aOR, 1.27, P = 0.047) on poorer outcomes. Conclusions Older age, higher white blood cell count, bilirubin, PT, international normalized ratio, potassium, and MELD scores were associated with poorer outcomes in COVID-19 inpatients with neurological manifestations.