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CC BY 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2023; 81(12): 1053-1069
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1777115
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Cognitive impairment in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome: a scoping review

Comprometimento cognitivo na síndrome pós-COVID-19 aguda: uma revisão de escopo
Gabriela Cabett Cipolli 
1   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Gerontologia, Campinas SP, Brazil.
,
Vanessa Alonso 
1   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Gerontologia, Campinas SP, Brazil.
,
Clarissa Lin Yasuda 
2   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Neurologia, Campinas SP, Brazil.
,
Daniela de Assumpção 
1   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Gerontologia, Campinas SP, Brazil.
,
Meire Cachioni 
1   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Gerontologia, Campinas SP, Brazil.
3   Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Programa de Pós-graduação em Gerontologia, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
,
Ruth Caldeira de Melo 
1   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Gerontologia, Campinas SP, Brazil.
3   Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Programa de Pós-graduação em Gerontologia, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
,
Kathryn Hinsliff-Smith 
4   De Montfort University, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Leicester School of Nursing & Midwifery, United Kingdom.
,
Mônica Sanches Yassuda 
1   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Gerontologia, Campinas SP, Brazil.
3   Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Programa de Pós-graduação em Gerontologia, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
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Abstract

Emerging studies indicate the persistence of symptoms beyond the acute phase of COVID-19. Cognitive impairment has been observed in certain individuals for months following infection. Currently, there is limited knowledge about the specific cognitive domains that undergo alterations during the post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and the potential impact of disease severity on cognition. The aim of this review is to examine studies that have reported cognitive impairment in post-acute COVID-19, categorizing them into subacute and chronic phases. The methodology proposed by JBI was followed in this study. The included studies were published between December 2019 and December 2022. The search was conducted in PubMed, PubMed PMC, BVS – BIREME, Embase, SCOPUS, Cochrane, Web of Science, Proquest, PsycInfo, and EBSCOHost. Data extraction included specific details about the population, concepts, context, and key findings or recommendations relevant to the review objectives. A total of 7,540 records were identified and examined, and 47 articles were included. The cognitive domains most frequently reported as altered 4 to 12 weeks after acute COVID-19 were language, episodic memory, and executive function, and after 12 weeks, the domains most affected were attention, episodic memory, and executive function. The results of this scoping review highlight that adults with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome may have impairment in specific cognitive domains.

Resumo

Estudos emergentes indicam a persistência dos sintomas além da fase aguda da COVID-19. O comprometimento cognitivo foi observado em alguns indivíduos durante meses após a infecção. Atualmente, há pouco conhecimento sobre os domínios cognitivos específicos que sofrem alterações durante a síndrome pós-aguda da COVID-19 e o possível impacto da gravidade da doença na cognição. O objetivo desta revisão é examinar estudos que relataram comprometimento cognitivo na COVID-19 pós-aguda, categorizando-os em fases subaguda e crônica. A metodologia proposta pela Joanna Briggs Institute foi seguida neste estudo. Os estudos incluídos foram publicados entre dezembro de 2019 e dezembro de 2022. A busca foi realizada no PubMed, PubMed PMC, BVS – BIREME, Embase, SCOPUS, Cochrane, Web of Science, Proquest, PsycInfo e EBSCOHost. A extração de dados incluiu detalhes específicos sobre a população, os conceitos, o contexto e as principais descobertas ou recomendações relevantes para os objetivos da revisão. Um total de 7.540 registros foi identificado e examinado, e 47 artigos foram incluídos. Os domínios cognitivos mais frequentemente relatados como alterados de 4 a 12 semanas após a COVID-19 aguda foram linguagem, memória episódica e função executiva e, após 12 semanas, os domínios mais afetados foram atenção, memória episódica e função executiva. Os resultados dessa revisão de escopo destacam que adultos com síndrome pós-aguda da COVID-19 podem apresentar comprometimento em domínios cognitivos específicos.

Keywords

Cognitive Dysfunction - Memory, Episodic - Attention - SARS-CoV-2 - Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome

Palavras-chave

Disfunção Cognitiva - Memória Episódica - Atenção - SARS-CoV-2 - Síndrome Pós-COVID-19 Aguda

Author's Contributions

GCC: study conception and design, interpretation, writing and review of the draft; VA: study conception and design, interpretation, and review of the draft; CLY: review of the draft; DA: review of the draft; MC: review of the draft; RCM: study design and draft review; KHS: draft interpretation and review; MSY: draft interpretation and review.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 18 August 2023

Accepted: 22 September 2023

Article published online:
29 December 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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