Neurologic and neuropsychiatric symptoms in long-COVID 19 syndrome: a systematic review

Abstract

Covid-19 pandemic globally impaired health care, basic assistance, and quality of life, even for those who recovered after SARS-CoV-2 infection. New questions arise regarding post infection and prolonged or new symptoms. This broad concept of COVID-19 long defined as symptoms occurring after infection is very relevant for health care taken together with patient complaints related to new emerging variants and prior infections. Therefore, establishing the relationship between neurological symptoms and COVID-19 is very important. For this review, we considered only neurologic or neuropsychiatric findings after a positive SARS-CoV-2 serological test and COVID-19 long symptoms after a negative PCR test, which resulted in 42 studies after exclusions. Our results demonstrated that the most relevant and frequent neurological complaints reported was fatigue, followed by attention or memory difficulties, including brain fog and smell and taste disturbances. This systematic literature review of long COVID-19 aims to enhance the current knowledge regarding symptoms after infection and to discuss long-term COVID-19 concept, given the possibility of new or persistent symptoms.

Current opinion of presentation of dysphagia and dysphonia in patients with coronavirus disease 2019

“…Encephalopathy, acute cerebrovascular disease, and acute polyradiculopathy or neuropathies have been repeatedly reported in case studies/series after severe COVID-19 impacting swallowing function [ 42 ]. More recently, patterns of neurological defects in those with long COVID-19 have also emerged including movement disturbances as well as cranial nerve neuropathies [ 43 – 44 ]. A recent systematic review of long COVID-19 identified five papers that addressed chronic dysphagia [ 43 ].…”

“…More recently, patterns of neurological defects in those with long COVID-19 have also emerged including movement disturbances as well as cranial nerve neuropathies [43][44]. A recent systematic review of long COVID-19 identified five papers that addressed chronic dysphagia [43]. The authors reported fatigue, altered taste and smell, and cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms that may impact mealtime safety, efficiency and enjoyment [40].…”