Researchers report memory problems in patients with mild COVID-19: JAMA

Norway: A recent study examined self-reported memory problems 8 months following the COVID-19 infection in a large group of patients who were not hospitalized and had relatively mild disease. 

After 8 months, the prevalence of memory problems in those with positive SARS-CoV-2 test was higher than in the control group with a negative test or in the untested control population, the researchers report in JAMA Network Open. Self-reported memory problems are also a risk factor for later mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

COVID-19 is an airway disease that is also known to affect the nervous system. Therefore, neurocognitive and neurological symptoms may be a part of the postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) syndrome. PASC may affect a high number of people with mild cases of COVID-19. Considering this there is an urgent need for a detailed description of PASC in nonhospitalized patients. 

To examine self-reported memory problems 8 months after COVID-19 infection, Arne Søraas, Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway, and colleagues conducted a cohort study of 13 001 adults who were invited after (1) having their clinical specimen analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 at 4 large accredited laboratories in Norway or (2) being randomly selected from the Norwegian population (untested).

All adults who were tested for COVID between February 1 and April 15, 2020, were invited. Nearly all testing in Norway during that time was on symptomatic patients and free of charge.

The researchers collected data on demographics, underlying medical conditions, symptoms, health-related quality of life from the RAND 36-Item Health Survey, memory problems, and known confounders for memory problems.

The main outcome was self-reported memory problems 8 months after infection, and the exposure was SARS-CoV-2 status (ie, positive, negative, or untested). 

After exclusions, 13 001 participants completed the baseline questionnaire and were followed up for 8 months. 

"A more detailed examination of what type of memory problems are specific for PASC, like working memory vs long-term memory, is warranted in future studies," concluded the authors. 

Reference:

The study titled, "Self-reported Memory Problems 8 Months After COVID-19 Infection," is published in JAMA Network Open. 

DOI: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2782531