Researchers Say More Than 80 Percent Of Severe COVID19 Patients Show Signs of Neurological Decline

A new study has revealed that the majority of hospitalized COVID19 patients deal with an altered state of mind. Experts have said that more than 80 percent of severe COVID19 patients experience headaches, dizziness, muscle pain, and encephalopathy. Encephalopathy is known as an altered mental function as well. Experts have said that these patients with such symptoms stay in the hospital three times longer than others. Such patients have been at a 7 percent higher risk of death as well. This study is the first of its kind in the United States. With these findings, people with neurological symptoms can be easily identified and treated before it gets worse. This study has been published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.

The team of experts has observed the data of 500 COVID19 patients admitted to 10 hospitals in the Northwestern Medicine health system. The data show that 42 percent of patients have shown neurological symptoms. Nearly 63 percent of patients have started showing such symptoms while they have been in the hospital. A whopping 82 percent of patients have said that they have been experiencing at least one symptom during the course of the treatment. Around 45 percent of patients have been suffering from muscle pain, which is the most common symptom. Nearly 38 percent of patients have been dealing with headaches as well. Experts have revealed that nearly one-third of patients have complained of feeling dizzy and been dealing with encephalopathy. Encephalopathy occurs when a patient suffers from an altered state of mind, which creates a state of confusion.

At the end of the study, nearly 11 percent of patients have said to have smell disorder and 16 percent of them have said they have been suffering from taste disorder as well. Experts have informed that around 2 percent of patients have been dealing with severe complications like seizures, strokes, and movement disorders. The study has found that after being discharged more than two-thirds of patients with encephalopathy have not been able to care for themselves. However, 90 patients who have not developed such symptoms have been able to take care of themselves at home after being discharged. Experts have claimed that the death rate among patients dealing with encephalopathy has been high.