A cross-sectional study on long covid, cognition and neurasthenia-one year post covid

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to long-term health effects in some patients, known as long COVID. This study aimed to delineate the symptoms of long COVID-19 and determine the presence of neurasthenia in patients one year after COVID-19 infection while excluding other potential causes of fatigue.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 512 RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients attending a follow-up clinic at least one year after infection. After excluding patients above 60 years, those with pre-existing psychiatric disorders, medical co-morbidities, and current psychiatric diagnoses, 87 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients were evaluated using the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and memory scale of PGI-BBD. A semi-structured questionnaire assessed changes in activities of daily living.

Of the 87 patients, 43 (49.4%) fulfilled the ICD-10 criteria for neurasthenia. Fatigue interfering with daily activities was reported by 41.3% of patients, with a mean FSS score of 6.1 in those with neurasthenia. Other symptoms included muscular aches (35.6%), tension headaches (27.5%), and weakness (31%). Cognitive difficulties, specifically problems with attention and concentration, were observed in 8% of patients. The severity of the initial COVID-19 infection did not correlate with the risk of developing neurasthenia.

Long COVID symptoms, particularly those resembling neurasthenia, persist in a significant proportion of patients one year after infection. The syndrome of long COVID shows similarities to the ICD-10 diagnosis of neurasthenia, suggesting a potential link between post-COVID symptoms and chronic low-grade inflammation. These findings highlight the need for recognition and management of long-term COVID-19 effects in public health policies.