Covid patients at higher risk of psychiatric neurological conditions: Latest study

A latest study, published in the Lancet, has found that the coronavirus patients have an increased risk of developing some neurological and psychiatric conditions, including psychosis, dementia, ‘brain fog’ and seizures, for two years after the infection compared to other respiratory diseases

There is also an increased risk of anxiety and depression in adults, but this subsides within two months of COVID-19 infection and, over two years, is no more likely than after other respiratory infections, noted the researchers from the University of Oxford. Furthermore, children are more likely to be diagnosed with some conditions, including seizures and psychotic disorders.

According to the researchers, the Delta variant was associated with more disorders than the Alpha variant while Omicron was linked with similar neurological and psychiatric risks as Delta.

“In addition to confirming previous findings that COVID-19 can increase the risk for some neurological and psychiatric conditions in the first six months after infection, this study suggests that some of these increased risks can last for at least two years,” said Professor Paul Harrison, from the University of Oxford.

“The results have important implications for patients and health services as it suggests new cases of neurological conditions linked to COVID-19 infection are likely to occur for a considerable time after the pandemic has subsided,” Harrison, lead author of the study, said.

The study also highlights the need for more research to understand why this happens after COVID-19, and what can be done to prevent or treat these conditions, noted newsmagazine The Week.

According to the newsmagazine, of those with health records in the US-based TriNetX network, 1,284,437 people had a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection on or after January 20, 2020 and were included in the study: 185,748 children, 856,588 adults between 18 and 64 years old, and 242,101 adults over 65. These individuals were matched to an equal number of patients with another respiratory infection to act as a control group.

Interestingly, records from patients infected during different pandemic waves were also compared to investigate differences in the impact of the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants on the risk of neurological and psychiatric diagnoses. – INDIA NEWS STREAM