Akase Iorhen Ephraim, Agabi Osigwe Paul, Ojo Oluwadamilola Omolara, Anyanwu Roosevelt Amaobichukwu, Awodumila Samuel, Ayilara Sodiq, Ede Obiamaka Jane, Ghajiga Pheekanmilla, Kalejaiye Olufunto, Nwanmah Chibueze, Nwaokorie Francisca, Ogbenna Ann, Olajide Moyinoluwa, Perez-Giraldo Gina S, Orban Zachary Steven, Jimenez Millenia, Koralnik Igor Jerome, Okubadejo Njideka Ulunma
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Department of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
J Neurovirol. 2024 Dec;30(5-6):524-533. doi: 10.1007/s13365-024-01232-9. Epub 2024 Oct 24.
Long COVID, also called post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) affects millions of people in the world. The neurologic manifestations of PASC (Neuro-PASC) are among the most debilitating but they are largely unreported in Africa. We sought to compare the demographics, symptoms and cognitive profile of post-hospitalization Neuro-PASC (PNP) and non-hospitalized Neuro-PASC (NNP) patients in Nigeria. In this cross-sectional study performed at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, 106/2319 (4.6%) SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals contacted via telephone reported Neuro-PASC symptoms with a higher frequency in PNP than in NNP individuals ((23/200 (11.5%) vs. 83/2119 (3.9%), p = < 0.0001). The predominant neurologic symptoms at any time during the disease course were difficulty remembering / brain fog (63/106; 59.4%), fatigue (59/106; 55.7%), sleep problems (34/106; 32%), headache (33/106; 31%), paresthesia (12/106; 11.3%), and myalgia (10/106; 9.4%). Of 66 participants with Neuro-PASC who underwent in-person neurological evaluation and cognitive screening, all had normal scores on the Intervention for Dementia in Elderly Africans cognition screen, while 11/65 (16.9%) that completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment had results consistent with mild cognitive impairment (3/16 PNP (18.8%) and 8/49 NNP (16.3%); p = 1.0). Finally, 47/66 (71.2%) had digit span test scores consistent with mild cognitive dysfunction (12/16 PNP (75%) and 35/50 (70%) NNP; p = 1.0). Our findings reveal the previously unrecognized occurrence of Neuro-PASC among COVID-19 survivors in Nigeria and highlight the need for improved screening and diagnosis of Neuro-PASC in our population. Development of cognitive support services for persons suffering from Neuro-PASC in Nigeria is warranted.
长期新冠，也称为新冠病毒2感染后急性后遗症（PASC），影响着全球数百万人。PASC的神经表现（神经PASC）是最使人衰弱的症状之一，但在非洲基本上未得到报告。我们试图比较尼日利亚住院后神经PASC（PNP）患者和未住院神经PASC（NNP）患者的人口统计学特征、症状和认知情况。在拉各斯大学教学医院进行的这项横断面研究中，通过电话联系的2319名新冠病毒阳性个体中有106人（4.6%）报告有神经PASC症状，PNP患者的出现频率高于NNP患者（（23/200（11.5%）对83/2119（3.9%），p = < 0.0001）。在病程中的任何时候，主要的神经症状为记忆困难/脑雾（63/106；59.4%）、疲劳（59/106；55.7%）、睡眠问题（34/106；32%）、头痛（33/106；31%）、感觉异常（12/106；11.3%）和肌痛（10/106；9.4%）。在66名接受了面对面神经评估和认知筛查的神经PASC参与者中，所有参与者在非洲老年人痴呆症干预认知筛查中的得分均正常，而在完成蒙特利尔认知评估的65人中，有11人（16.9%）的结果符合轻度认知障碍（PNP组16人中的3人（18.8%）和NNP组49人中的8人（16.3%）；p = 1.0）。最后，47/66（71.2%）的数字广度测试得分符合轻度认知功能障碍（PNP组16人中的12人（75%）和NNP组50人中的35人（70%）；p = 1.0）。我们的研究结果揭示了尼日利亚新冠病毒幸存者中此前未被认识到的神经PASC的发生情况，并强调了在我们的人群中改善神经PASC筛查和诊断的必要性。为尼日利亚患有神经PASC的人开发认知支持服务是有必要的。
