Post COVID-19 neurological complications; a meta-analysis
Jaafar Omer Ahmed, Shwan A. Ahmad, Marwan N. Hassan, Fahmi H. Kakamad, Rawezh Q. Salih, Hiwa O. Abdullah, Fattah Hama Rahim Fattah, Shvan H. Mohammed, Razhan K. Ali, Abdulwahid M. Salih
Abstract
Introduction: Despite numerous studies regarding neurological manifestations and complications of COVID-19, only a few cases of neurological consequences following complete recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection have been described. Objectives: The current study aims to present a quantitative meta-analysis of published studies regarding the post-infectious neurological complications of COVID-19. Data sources: The Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE on OVID, and Google scholar were searched for English-language researches published after January 1, 2020. Result: The review of the literature revealed 60 cases - of which 40 (66.7%) cases were male, and 18 (30%) were female. The average age was 44.95 years. Overall, 17 (28.3%) patients had comorbid conditions. Twenty-four (40%) patients were hospitalized during an active COVID-19 infection. The average interval from the COVID-19 infection to the onset of neurological sequelae was 33.2 days. Guillain-Barre syndrome was the most commonly reported neurological condition (15, 25%). Conclusion: Despite recovery from acute infection, the pandemic highlights the significance of ongoing, comprehensive follow-up of all COVID-19 patients - even those initially were believed to be asymptomatic.