Neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations of post-COVID-19 condition in South America: a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Background The post-COVID-19 condition is a major modern challenge in medicine and has a high global impact on the health of the population.

Objective To determine the main neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations after acute COVID-19 infection in South American countries.

Methods This is a systematic review study, registered on the PROSPERO platform following the PRISMA model. 4131 articles were found with the search strategies used. Neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations were investigated in individuals three months or more after acute COVID-19 infection, and older than 18 years, including studies conducted in South American countries published between 2020 and 2022.

Results Six studies (four from Brazil and two from Ecuador) were analyzed. Regarding the type of study: three were cohorts, two were case reports, and one was cross-sectional. The main outcomes found were new pain (65.5%) and new chronic pain (19.6%), new headache (39.1%), daily chronic headache (13%), paresthesia (62%), in addition to neuropsychiatric diseases, such as generalized anxiety disorder (15.1%), post-traumatic stress syndrome (13.4%), depression and anxiety (13.5%), suicidal ideation (10.1%), and several cognitive disorders.

Conclusion Neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations related to depression and anxiety, and cognition disorders are reported during the post-COVID-19 condition in South America. Symptoms associated with chronic pain appear to be associated with the condition. More studies on post-COVID-19 conditions are needed in the South America region.

Resumo

Antecedentes A condição pós-COVID-19 é um grande desafio moderno na medicina e tem alto impacto global na saúde da população.

Objetivo Determinar as principais manifestações neurológicas e neuropsiquiátricas após a infecção aguda da COVID-19 nos países da América do Sul.

Métodos Trata-se de um estudo de revisão sistemática, registrado na plataforma PROSPERO seguindo o modelo PRISMA. Foram encontrados 4131 artigos com as estratégias de buscas empregadas. Investigaram-se manifestações neurológicas e neuropsiquiátricas em indivíduos com três meses ou mais desde a infecção aguda por COVID-19, maiores de 18 anos, incluindo estudos realizados em países da América do Sul publicados entre 2020 e 2022.

Resultados Foram analisados seis estudos (quatro do Brasil e dois do Equador). Em relação ao tipo de estudo: três eram coortes, dois relatos de casos e um transversal. Os principais desfechos encontrados foram em relação à dor nova (65,5%) e dor crônica nova (19,6%), cefaleia nova (39,1%), cefaleia crônica diária (13%), parestesia (62%), além de doenças neuropsiquiátricas como transtorno de ansiedade generalizada (15,1%), síndrome do estresse pós-traumático (13,4%), depressão e ansiedade (13,5%), ideação suicida (10,1%) e diversos distúrbios cognitivos.

Conclusão Manifestações neurológicas e neuropsiquiátricas relacionadas à depressão e ansiedade e distúrbios de cognição são relatados durante a condição pós-COVID-19 na América do Sul. Os sintomas associados a quadros de dor crônica parecem estar associados à condição. Mais estudos sobre condições pós COVID-19 são necessários na região da América do Sul.

Keywords

Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome - Neurologic Manifestations - Mental Health

Palavras-chave

Síndrome Pós-COVID-19 Aguda - Manifestações Neurológicas - Saúde Mental

Authors' Contributions

LPOZG: conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, project administration, writing – original draft, writing – review & editing; CMM: conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, project administration; ECP: data curation, investigation, project administration, writing – original draft, writing – review & editing; LSA: conceptualization, investigation, methodology, writing – original draft, writing – review & editing; PKOB: conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, project administration, supervision, writing – original draft, writing – review & editing.

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 24. Juli 2023

Angenommen: 30. Oktober 2023

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
05. Februar 2024

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