PREVALENCE OF NEUROLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS IN COVID-19 PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE ICU: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: The global spread of COVID-19 has resulted in significant changes. Neurological manifestations are associated with worse outcomes, whether due to direct invasion or inflammatory immune responses. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of neurological manifestations in patients with severe COVID-19 who required admission to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) during hospitalization. Methods: A literature review was conducted to examine the investigations and narratives published to date in scientific journals related to the neurological symptoms and expressions present in individuals affected by COVID-19 among patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The search was conducted using articles indexed in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed) database, between the years 2020 and 2022. The descriptors ‘neurological findings’ OR ‘neurological manifestations’ AND ‘COVID-19’ AND ‘ICU’ were used for the period 2020 to 2022. Results: Ten articles were included in the study, mostly retrospective analyses and systematic reviews. A predominance of mild manifestations was observed, such as headache, olfactory and gustatory disorders, and especially delirium. More severe cases were also reported, such as intracranial hemorrhage, Guillain-Barré syndrome, peripheral motor disorders, and stroke. Conclusion: The presence of any neurological syndrome is indicative of greater severity, longer hospital stay, and higher mortality rates.