Post-COVID-Syndrome Patients Might Overestimate Own Cognitive Impairment

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Infectious Diseases
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Post-Covid Syndrome (PCS) frequently involves cognitive impairment.
• Subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) are common in PCS patients.
• Investigating the link between perceived and measured cognitive deficits is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the congruence between subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) and objective neurocognitive disorder (NCD) in Post-Covid Syndrome.
• To assess cognitive function using a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery.
• To analyze the relationship between self-reported and measured cognitive deficits.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 46 patients with subjective cognitive complaints after COVID-19 infection was studied.
• A comprehensive neuropsychological test battery assessed objective cognitive impairment.
• Three established cut-off criteria were used to define neurocognitive disorder (NCD).

Main Results:

• A low congruence was observed between subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) and objective neurocognitive disorder (NCD) in Post-Covid Syndrome.
• Objectification of SCC ranged from 4% to a maximum of 40%, depending on the cognitive domain.
• This discrepancy was consistent across different cut-off criteria for NCD.

Conclusions:

• High rates of depressive symptoms may contribute to the discrepancy between perceived and objective cognitive deficits in PCS.
• Findings underscore the importance of thorough evaluation for subjective cognitive complaints in Post-Covid Syndrome.
• Treating depressive symptoms could potentially alleviate perceived cognitive deficits in PCS patients.