Fatigue and cognitive dysfunction in previously hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A 1-year follow-up

by Ingrid Andreasson, Hanna C. Persson, Ann Björkdahl

The aim was to longitudinally explore changes in fatigue- and cognition-related symptoms during the first year after hospital treatment for COVID-19.

Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Gothenburg, Sweden, were consecutively included from 01-07-2020 to 28-02-2021. Patients were assessed at the hospital (acute) and at 3 and 12 months after hospital discharge. Cognition was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Trail Making Test B (TMTB), and the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ). Fatigue was assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 (MFI-20) and the Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS). Data was analyzed with demographics and changes over time calculated with univariable mixed-effects models.

In total, 122 participants were included. Analyzes of Z-scores for MoCA indicated improvement over the year, however the results were 1 SD below norm at all assessments. Alertness (TMTB scores) improved significantly from the acute assessment to the 12- month follow-up (p = <0.001, 95% CI 34.67–69.67). CFQ scores indicated cognitive impairment, and the sum scores for MFI reflected a relatively high degree of fatigue at follow-up.

In the first year after hospitalization for COVID-19, most patients experienced fatigue and cognitive impairment. Alertness improved, but improvements in other domains were limited.