Encephalopathy in Patients with COVID-19
Abstract number :
3.223
Submission category :
4. Clinical Epilepsy / 4D. Prognosis
Year :
2021
Submission ID :
1826717
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/6/2021 12:00:00 PM
Published date :
Nov 22, 2021, 06:56 AM
Authors :
Alexandra Eid, MD - George Washington University ; Alexandra Eid, MD - University of Chicago; Wonhee Lee, MD - University of Chicago; Amy Espinal, MD - University of Chicago; Sumayyah Abumurad, MD - University of Chicago; Fabiane Santos de Lima, MD - University of Chicago; Sandra Rose, MD - University of Chicago; Shasha Wu, MD, PhD - University of Chicago; Naoum Issa, MD, PhD - University of Chicago; James Tao, MD, PhD - University of Chicago
Rationale: Cognitive symptoms are relatively common in patients with COVID-19. However, an association of encephalopathy with COVID-19 has not been fully established. The aim of this study is to characterize the clinical features of patients with COVID-19 with and without encephalopathy as defined by a slow background rhythm on EEG.
Methods: We performed a retrospective review of medical records from 121 patients with COVID-19 who underwent EEG studies during hospitalization between March 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021. Data were extracted on demographics, clinical history, and degree of encephalopathy.
Results: Of 121 patients with COVID-19 and an EEG, 99 patients (81.8%) had a background frequency less than or equal to 8 Hz, and 22 patients (18.2%) had a normal background frequency (9-12 Hz). The mean age of the 99 patients with a slow background was 62.6 ± 15.8 years (mean ± SD, range: 19 to 93), as compared to the 56.0 ±19.7 years (mean ± SD, range: 19 to 77) in patients with a normal background. Altered mental status or delirium was clinically evident in 88 patients (89%) with an encephalopathic EEG and 15 (68%) of patients with a normal EEG background. Of the 99 patients with an encephalopathic EEG, WHO severity of COVID-19 infection was non-severe in 30 patients (30%), severe in 19 patients (19%), and critical in 50 patients (51%). In patients with a normal background, WHO severity of COVID-19 infection was non-severe in 20 patients (91%), severe in 1 patient (4.5%), and critical in 1 patient (4.5%). Of the patients with encephalopathic EEGs, 25 patients (25%) had a history of dementia as compared to 7 patients (32%) with a normal EEG background. While 27 patients (27.2%) with encephalopathic EEGs expired during hospitalization, none of the patients with a normal background expired during hospitalization.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that encephalopathy in COVID-19 patients is common and associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Future studies are needed to delineate risk factors for encephalopathy and long-term outcomes of surviving COVID-19 patients who were encephalopathic during the acute phase of illness.
Funding: Please list any funding that was received in support of this abstract.: No funding was received in support of this abstract.
Clinical Epilepsy