Long-term neurological and otolaryngological sequelae of COVID-19: a retrospective study
Aim: COVID-19, a multisystemic syndrome caused by SARS-CoV-2, often results in long-term complications collectively referred to as long COVID. This study explores the persistence of neurological and otolaryngological symptoms in patients two years after acute infection, with a focus on gender differ...
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| Language: | English |
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Open Exploration Publishing Inc.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Exploration of Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.explorationpub.com/uploads/Article/A1001310/1001310.pdf |
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| author | Wael Abu Ruqa Christian Barbato Antonio Minni |
| author_facet | Wael Abu Ruqa Christian Barbato Antonio Minni |
| author_sort | Wael Abu Ruqa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aim: COVID-19, a multisystemic syndrome caused by SARS-CoV-2, often results in long-term complications collectively referred to as long COVID. This study explores the persistence of neurological and otolaryngological symptoms in patients two years after acute infection, with a focus on gender differences and variant-specific effects. Methods: A retrospective follow-up was conducted in January 2024 on 112 patients who had been hospitalized for COVID-19. Patients completed a questionnaire assessing the persistence of neuropsychiatric, otolaryngological, and systemic symptoms. Results: Findings reveal that 18.3% of women reported persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as memory deficits, depression, and concentration issues, compared to 5.7% of men. Otolaryngological symptoms, including anosmia and ageusia, largely resolved, with only 4.5% reporting persistent issues. Symptom persistence was more common in older individuals, women, smokers, and those with severe acute-phase illness. Neuropsychiatric symptoms remain prominent, underscoring the need for targeted long-term care. Conclusions: Vaccination significantly reduces the risk and severity of long COVID, particularly neuropsychiatric symptoms, emphasizing its role in mitigating the long-term burden of SARS-CoV-2. Future research should explore biomolecular markers and imaging techniques to better understand and address these long-term sequelae. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1f6f43bd78ff44b69cffecfc68b7ad5d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2692-3106 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Open Exploration Publishing Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Exploration of Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-1f6f43bd78ff44b69cffecfc68b7ad5d2025-08-20T01:47:54ZengOpen Exploration Publishing Inc.Exploration of Medicine2692-31062025-04-016100131010.37349/emed.2025.1001310Long-term neurological and otolaryngological sequelae of COVID-19: a retrospective studyWael Abu Ruqa0Christian Barbato1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1737-9064Antonio Minni2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3890-3665Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ospedale San Camillo de Lellis, Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Rieti-Sapienza University, 02100 Rieti, Italy; Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Roma, ItalyInstitute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Roma, ItalyDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ospedale San Camillo de Lellis, Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Rieti-Sapienza University, 02100 Rieti, Italy; Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Roma, ItalyAim: COVID-19, a multisystemic syndrome caused by SARS-CoV-2, often results in long-term complications collectively referred to as long COVID. This study explores the persistence of neurological and otolaryngological symptoms in patients two years after acute infection, with a focus on gender differences and variant-specific effects. Methods: A retrospective follow-up was conducted in January 2024 on 112 patients who had been hospitalized for COVID-19. Patients completed a questionnaire assessing the persistence of neuropsychiatric, otolaryngological, and systemic symptoms. Results: Findings reveal that 18.3% of women reported persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as memory deficits, depression, and concentration issues, compared to 5.7% of men. Otolaryngological symptoms, including anosmia and ageusia, largely resolved, with only 4.5% reporting persistent issues. Symptom persistence was more common in older individuals, women, smokers, and those with severe acute-phase illness. Neuropsychiatric symptoms remain prominent, underscoring the need for targeted long-term care. Conclusions: Vaccination significantly reduces the risk and severity of long COVID, particularly neuropsychiatric symptoms, emphasizing its role in mitigating the long-term burden of SARS-CoV-2. Future research should explore biomolecular markers and imaging techniques to better understand and address these long-term sequelae.https://www.explorationpub.com/uploads/Article/A1001310/1001310.pdfneurocovidsars-cov-2covid-19 variantsneurologicalotolaryngological |
| spellingShingle | Wael Abu Ruqa Christian Barbato Antonio Minni Long-term neurological and otolaryngological sequelae of COVID-19: a retrospective study Exploration of Medicine neurocovid sars-cov-2 covid-19 variants neurological otolaryngological |
| title | Long-term neurological and otolaryngological sequelae of COVID-19: a retrospective study |
| title_full | Long-term neurological and otolaryngological sequelae of COVID-19: a retrospective study |
| title_fullStr | Long-term neurological and otolaryngological sequelae of COVID-19: a retrospective study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-term neurological and otolaryngological sequelae of COVID-19: a retrospective study |
| title_short | Long-term neurological and otolaryngological sequelae of COVID-19: a retrospective study |
| title_sort | long term neurological and otolaryngological sequelae of covid 19 a retrospective study |
| topic | neurocovid sars-cov-2 covid-19 variants neurological otolaryngological |
| url | https://www.explorationpub.com/uploads/Article/A1001310/1001310.pdf |
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