الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 105 |  |  |
| | | from | 105 | | |
Abstract
Covid had proved in literature that it can cause neuropsychiatric manifestations at acute illness, but still the relation between it and further development of PCC is still debatable, post covid cognitive impairment or in other term brain fog characterized by affection of cognition negatively in multiple domains as attention, memory and concentration (Tersa et al., 2023).
In the present study, the cognitive and psychiatric symptoms OF health care workers post covid infection are assessed which is conducted in neurology department Minia University Hospital from November 2021 to May 2023. It included 100 participants (70 have COVID- 19 from the health care team workers and 30 controls). The participants are divided into group 1(PCR positive swab) and group2 (PCR negative swab). The cognitive functions are evaluated by MOCA and auditory p300 event related potentials, moreover the SCL is used for the assessment of the psychiatric symptoms.
Headache, cough, fever, dyspnea and anosmia were the most common symptoms manifested during acute illness of covid
MoCA scores frequency is reduced in both group1 and 2, that (21%) in each group.
Recall is the most affected domains in both covid groups (90%&100% respectively). Visuospatial and executive functions 80% and language 60% in group 1 participants are impaired. Furthermore, about half of the participants have affection of attention while orientation, abstraction and naming are not affected in both groups
Auditory p300 showed significant prolonged latency in post covid participants than controls (p<0.001) with more delay in PCR positive group. There was positive correlation between number of covid episodes and duration of illness and the peak latency of the p300 which indicating the effect of the viral load on the severity of cognitive affection.
The males showed delayed peak latency of p300 more than females with statistical significance (p< 0.02).
The peak latency of p300 detect more cases of cognitive affection with normal MoCA score. Consequently, this finding explained by early detection of subtle cognitive decline
Anxiety and interpersonal sensitivity are most common reported psychiatric symptoms
Phobia is statistically significant higher in males (p<0.05). Moreover, depressive symptoms were the most common in both of them followed by somatic and obsessive symptoms
In all participants, there are no significant correlation between each domain of MoCA with result of each psychiatric symptom (somatic, OCD, depression, etc.). similarly, no significant correlation between the total MoCA scores and the peak latency of p300 with the different SCL items.
Conclusion
The current study demonstrates cognitive deficits in post-covid survivors of health care workers. Males, nurses and PCR positive participants show higher CI. Recall is the most affected and impairment of attention is present in about half of the participants. Similarly, visuospatial, executive function and language OF participants are impaired while orientation, abstraction and naming are not affected in them. Auditory p300 showed significant prolonged latency in post covid participants than controls with more delay in PCR positive group and positively correlated with number of the episodes reflecting the effect of the viral load on the severity of CI. The peak latency of p300 can detect early and subtle CI. Anxiety is most reported symptoms followed by depressive symptoms. The CI is not explained by the psychiatric symptoms.