Neurocognitive impairment in elderly patients with COVID-19
Keywords:
neurocognitive impairment, older adults, COVID-19, geriatricsAbstract
Introduction: Neurocognitive impairment is a common and potentially serious sequelae of COVID-19 in older adults. It typically manifests with persistent problems with memory, attention, concentration, and executive function, representing a significant risk for accelerated decline or progression to dementia, especially in individuals with preexisting vulnerabilities.
Objective: To analyze the behavior of neurocognitive impairment in elderly patients with COVID-19 admitted to the Geriatrics Department of the Camilo Cienfuegos General Hospital in Sancti Spíritus.
Methods: An observational, prospective study was conducted at the institution. The sample consisted of 148 elderly individuals with neurocognitive impairment who became ill with COVID-19 and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The variables used were: age, sex, education, toxic habits, associated comorbidities, affected neurocognitive patterns, severity of neurocognitive impairment, and etiology.
Results: 43.91% of the sample were in the 70-79 age group, 62.16% were women; the most common educational level was primary school, accounting for 50.67% of the total; coffee was the most commonly consumed toxic habit, with 72.97%; high blood pressure, with 66.21%, being the most frequent comorbidity; memory was the most affected cognitive pattern, with 68.24%; The moderate major form was the most frequent with 54.72%, Alzheimer's disease with 38.51% was the most common etiology.
Conclusions: Neurocognitive impairment in geriatric patients with COVID-19 is a multifactorial syndrome that includes advanced age, female gender, low education, cardiometabolic comorbidities, and toxic habits.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Yuniel Abreu Hernández, Daimara Barrera León, Yamil Fidel Garcia Guevara, Jorge Luis Lorente Montiel
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