THE ASSOCIATION OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 INFECTION WITH PATIENT HOSPITALIZATION IN IRAQI KURDISH PATIENTS

Volume 14 , Issue 4 , December 2024 , Pages 365-376

Authors

Sarwer Jamal Al-Bajalan Al-Bajalan 1

1 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Ira

DOI logo 10.17656/jsmc.10484

Keywords

Abstract

Background
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) can affect multiple organs, including central and peripheral nervous systems, with various neurological manifestations
Objectives
To determine the frequency of neurological manifestations in patients with COVID-19 infection and identify their association with hospitalization.
Materials and Methods
An observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 351 COVID-19-infected patients in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq. The frequency of the neurological symptoms was determined and correlated with the hospitalization rate.
Results
The specific neurological symptoms were more predominant in hospitalized patients (98.2%) than non- hospitalized (93.4%) (p=0.052). Insomnia (72%), confusion (38.1%), urinary incontinence (14.9%), fecal incontinence (8.9%), and seizures (6.0%) were associated with hospitalization (p=0.008, p=0.003, p=0.003, p=0.023, and p=0.027, respectively). While, loss of smell, feeling of debility, loss of balance and hypersomnia were significantly observed in non-hospitalized patients (p≤0.05). The nonspecific neurological symptoms did not significantly differ between groups (p=0.240). However, headache (75.4%), fatigue (72.1%) and backache (68.3%) were associated with non-hospitalization (p<0.001), while constipation (32.75%) and vomiting (24.4%) were associated with hospitalization (p=0.002 and p=0.015, respectively). The most common symptom among patients was neurological (n=204, 58.1%) associated with less hospitalization.
Conclusion
There was a significant association between neurological symptoms (insomnia, confusion, urine/fecal incontinence, seizures, constipation, and vomiting) and the rate of hospitalization. Loss of smell, weakness/ debility, loss of balance, hypersomnia, headache, fatigue, and backache were more common in non-hospitalized patients.

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  • First online21 December 2024
  • Published at21 December 2024

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