The impact of COVID-19 post-infection on the cognition of adults from Peru

Zegarra-Valdivia, Jonathan; Harold Alessandro Arana‐Nombera; Leandro Aron Perez‐Fernandez; Reyna Elizabeth Alamo‐Medina; Casimiro, Milagros del Rocío; Diana Lisseth Bustamante‐Delgado; Maribel Jesus Matallana‐Sanchez; Viviana Nayelli Gallegos‐Manayay; Elizabeth Killasumac Álvarez‐Bravo; Tihany Liliana Arteaga‐Cancino; Eduardo Sebastián Abanto‐Saldaña; María del Rosario Oliva‐Piscoya; Cruz-Ordinola, María Celinda; Chavarry, Patricia; Vilca, Brenda Nadia Chino; Paredes-Manrique, Carmen; Chirinos, Carlos; Custodio, Nilton; Ibáñez, Agustín · 2024 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1325237

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Summary

This study investigates the cognitive impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults from Peru, addressing a gap in literature regarding populations facing significant socioeconomic disparities. As the first study of its kind in Peru, it aims to determine how COVID-19 history affects general cognition and executive function, particularly distinguishing between acute and prolonged symptomatic phases. The researchers conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study involving 154 participants from Chiclayo, Peru, selected via non-probabilistic sampling. The cohort was divided into three groups: healthy controls (n=42), individuals with an acute phase (AP) of symptoms lasting 1–14 days (n=74), and those with a hyperinflammatory phase (HP) lasting more than 14 days (n=38). Participants were evaluated 3 to 30 months post-infection using a neuropsychological battery including the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) for general cognition, the INECO Frontal Screening (IFS) for executive functions, the Backward Digit Span Test for working memory, and the Trail-Making Test. Statistical analyses employed ANCOVA, adjusting for age and education, to compare cognitive performance across groups and genders. Results indicated significant cognitive deficits in infected individuals compared to controls. The HP group exhibited lower performance in general cognition (p=0.02), working memory (p=0.01), and executive functions, specifically planning (p<0.001) and flexibility (p=0.03). Comparisons between patient groups revealed that those in the HP phase performed worse than those in the AP phase in general cognition, working memory, and planning. Gender-specific analyses highlighted that males in the HP phase suffered significantly poorer working memory (p=0.003) and planning abilities (p=0.01) compared to females. Additionally, males showed distinct deficits in general cognition and executive function when comparing AP and HP phases, whereas female deficits were primarily observed in planning and flexibility between patient groups. The findings underscore that COVID-19 negatively impacts cognitive function, even in cases not classified as severe, with effects persisting months after infection. The study highlights heightened vulnerability in men during the hyperinflammatory phase and emphasizes the broader implications for populations with socioeconomic disparities. These results provide critical evidence for the long-term neurological sequelae of COVID-19 in Latin America, suggesting the need for targeted cognitive monitoring and support for survivors, particularly men and those who experienced prolonged symptoms.

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• cognitive capacity variation