Severe COVID-19 can damage brain
Preliminary studies have found a vast array of health problems caused by the new coronavirus
LONDON—SEVERE cases of COVID-19 can result in brain damage that may lead to a stroke, inflammation, psychosis and dementia-like complications, a preliminary study on hospitalized patients has revealed. Medical professionals say an array of other health problems may be brought by the coronavirus that causes the disease and can affect patients and health systems for years to come.
LONDON—A preliminary study of patients hospitalized with the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has found the virus can damage the brain, causing complications such as stroke, inflammation, psychosis and dementia-like symptoms in some severe cases.
The findings are the first detailed look at a range of neurological complications of COVID-19, the researchers said, and underline a need for larger studies to find the mechanisms behind them and assist the search for treatments.
“This (is) an important snapshot of the brain-related complications of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. It is critically important that we continue to collect this information to really understand this virus fully,” said Sarah Pett, a University College London professor who coled the work.
The study, published in the Lancet Psychiatry journal on Thursday, looked in detail at 125 cases from across the United Kingdom. Colead researcher Benedict Michael, from Liverpool University, said it was important to note that it focused on severe cases.
Data was collected between April 2 and 26, when the disease was spreading exponentially in the United Kingdom.
Stroke most common
The most common brain complication seen was stroke, which was reported in 77 of 125 patients. Of these, most were in patients over 60, and most were caused by a blood clot in the brain, known as an ischemic stroke.
The study also found that 39 of the 125 patients showed signs of confusion or changes in behavior reflecting an altered mental state. Of these, nine had unspecified brain dysfunction, known as encephalopathy, and seven had inflammation of the brain, or encephalitis.
Michael said the findings were an important early step towards defining COVID-19’S effect on the brain. “We now need detailed studies to understand the possible biological mechanisms ... so we can explore potential treatments,” he said.
Brain damage is just one of a vast array of health problems caused by the new coronavirus, some of which may have lingering effects on patients and health systems for years to come, according to doctors and infectious disease experts.
Catastrophic damage
Besides the respiratory issues that leave patients gasping for breath, the virus that causes COVID-19 attacks many organ systems, in some cases causing catastrophic damage.
“We thought this was only a respiratory virus. Turns out, it goes after the pancreas. It goes after the heart. It goes after the liver, the brain, the kidney and other organs. We didn’t appreciate that in the beginning,” said Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute
in La Jolla, California.
In addition to respiratory distress, patients with COVID-19 can experience blood clotting disorders that can lead to strokes, and extreme inflammation that attacks multiple organ systems. The virus can also cause neurological complications that range from headache, dizziness and loss of taste or smell to seizures and confusion.
And recovery can be slow, incomplete and costly, with a huge impact on quality of life.
The broad and diverse manifestations of COVID-19 are somewhat unique, said Dr. Sadiya Khan, a cardiologist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.
With influenza, people with underlying heart conditions are also at higher risk of complications, Khan said. What is surprising about this virus is the extent of the complications outside the lungs.