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Med. Surg. J. – Rev. Med. Chir. Soc. Med. Nat., Iaşi 2025, 129(4): 642-649 doi: 10.22551/MSJ.2025.04.03
INTERNAL MEDICINE - PEDIATRICS ORIGINAL PAPERS
643
ANALYSIS OF RISK FACTORS FOR NEUROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS OF SARS-COV-2 INFECTION: FOCUS ON CHRONIC FATIGABILITY
Iulia Elena Diaconu1, Maria Ioana Onofrei1,2*, A. Vȃţă1,2, Raluca Erika Irimie Baluta1,2, A. N. Avadanei2,3, Ioana Alina Harja-Alexa1,2, Mihaela Catalina Luca1,2
1. Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi 2. Sf. Parascheva Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases Iasi 3. Sf. Spiridon County Clinical Emergency Hospital Iasi *Corresponding author. E-mail: maria-ioana.hunea@umfiasi.ro
ANALYSIS OF RISK FACTORS FOR NEUROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS OF SARS-COV-2 INFECTION: FOCUS ON CHRONIC FATIGABILITY
(Abstract):
Aim:
Chronic fa-tigue syndrome is a long-term neurological manifestation that significantly affects the quality of life of patients. Its etiology is incompletely known, although it can occur after various infections including COVID-19, and the associated risk factors are not fully defined. The aim of the current study was to evaluate neurological manifestations in long-COVID and to identify potential risk factors for these complications.
Materials and methods:
We performed retro - prospective study on patients with history of COVID-19 infections. Patients were assessed up to 3 years after infection. Clinical and neurological investigations, brain imaging, analysis of inflammatory markers, levels of vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin D were carried out. Neurocognitive status was assessed using a validated semiquantitative scale.
Results:
In 132 eligible patients, 41.67% of cases developed chronic fatigability. Oth-er neurological manifestations associated with Long-COVID were dizziness (29.17% cases), and memory impairment (25% cases). The deterioration of the neurocognitive status 1 year after infection was significantly correlated with the patient’s age (p<0,0001), serum vitamin D (p=0.015), as well as vitamin B12 (p=0.006).
Conclusions:
Chronic fatigability is a com-mon neurological complication of COVID-19 infection. Older people, those with low vita-min D and vitamin B12 levels, have higher risk of developing this syndrome. The COVID-19 infected patients need multiple investigations and a multidisciplinary approach to prevent these long-term complications.
Keywords: RISK FACTORS, NEUROLOGICAL COMPLI-CATIONS, SARS-COV-2, INFECTION, FATIGABILITY.