[Neurological manifestations in patients with severe COVID-19 in a tertiary care center].

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 disease, called COVID-19, emerged in China has acquired pandemic dimensions. According to the WHO situational report of March 15, 2021, the global fatality rate is 2.2%; in Mexico, around 194 944 deaths have been confirmed by COVID-19. Studies in China identified that patients with severe COVID-19, when compared with those who had non-severe COVID-19, presented more severe neurological manifestations.

Objective: To determine the frequency of neurological symptoms and manifestations in patients with severe COVID-19 in a tertiary care center.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional, observational and analytical study was carried out at the Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19.

Results: 183 cases were analyzed, of which 130 were men (71%). The median age was 55 years (IQR: 44-65). The neurological symptoms were: headache, anosmia and dysgeusia. Neurological manifestations occurred in 27 patients (16%), the most frequent was ischemic-type cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in 12 (44%), in patients older than 76.5 years vs. 54 years (p = 0.000), with history of cardiovascular disease.

Conclusions: The most frequent neurological symptoms were headache, anosmia and dysgeusia. The most frequent neurological manifestation was ischemic CVD that appeared in older patients with severe COVID-19 with a history of cardiovascular disease.