Neurological symptoms and comorbidity profile of hospitalized patients with COVID-19

Abstract: Background The neurological manifestations in COVID-19 adversely impact acute illness and post-disease quality of life. Limited data exist regarding the association of neurological symptoms and comorbid individuals. Objective To assess neurological symptoms in hospitalized patients with acute COVID-19 and multicomorbidities. Methods Between June 2020 and July 2020, inpatients aged 18 or older, with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, admitted to the Hospital São Paulo (Federal University of São Paulo), a tertiary referral center for high complexity cases, were questioned about neurological symptoms. The Composite Autonomic Symptom Score 31 (COMPASS-31) questionnaire was used. The data were analyzed as a whole and whether subjective olfactory dysfunction was present or not. Results The mean age of the sample was 55 ± 15.12 years, and 58 patients were male. The neurological symptoms were mostly xerostomia (71%), ageusia/hypogeusia (50%), orthostatic intolerance (49%), anosmia/hyposmia (44%), myalgia (31%), dizziness (24%), xerophthalmia (20%), impaired consciousness (18%), and headache (16%). Furthermore, 91% of the patients had a premorbidity. The 44 patients with subjective olfactory dysfunction were more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, weakness, shortness of breath, ageusia/hypogeusia, dizziness, orthostatic intolerance, and xerophthalmia. The COMPASS-31 score was higher than that of previously published controls (14.85 ± 12.06 vs. 8.9 ± 8.7). The frequency of orthostatic intolerance was 49% in sample and 63.6% in those with subjective olfactory dysfunction (2.9-fold higher risk compared to those without). Conclusion A total of 80% of inpatients with multimorbidity and acute COVID-19 had neurological symptoms. Chemical sense and autonomic symptoms stood out. Orthostatic intolerance occurred in around two-thirds of the patients with anosmia/hyposmia. Hypertension and diabetes were common, mainly in those with anosmia/hyposmia.

Object Details

• Alternative title: Sintomas neurológicos e perfil de comorbidades de pacientes hospitalizados com COVID-19
• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Neurological symptoms and comorbidity profile of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 ; volume:81 ; number:02 ; year:2023 ; pages:146-154 ; Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria ; 81, Heft 02 (2023), 146-154

Contributors, Places and Time

• Contributor: Cremaschi, Renata Carvalho ; Bahi, Carla Alessandra Scorza ; Paola, Angelo Amato Vincenzo de ; Arakaki, Jaquelina Sonoe Ota ; Ferreira, Paulo Roberto Abrão ; Bellei, Nancy Cristina Junqueira ; Borges, Vanderci ; Coelho, Fernando Morgadinho Santos

Further information

• DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1761433
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023062210312240109560
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:46 AM CEST