Table 2 Clinical characteristics of study participants

From: Cerebral microstructural alterations in Post-COVID-condition are related to cognitive impairment, olfactory dysfunction and fatigue

 

Post-COVID-Condition (PCC; n = 89)

Unimpaired Post-COVID (UPC; n = 38)

 
 

median [IQR]; range; n outside of norm (%)

median [IQR]; range; n outside of norm (%)

P value

Disease severity scorea

Mild course of COVID-19

76 (85%)

37 (97%)

0.048c

 1

42 (47%)

25 (65%)

 

 2

34 (38%)

12 (32%)

 

Severe course of COVID-19

13 (15%)

1 (3%)

0.048c

 3

11 (13%)

1 (3%)

 

 4

2 (2%)

0 (0%)

 

Grading of current disabilityb

 0

0 (0%)

38 (100%)

 

 1

42 (47%)

0 (0%)

 

 2

11 (13%)

0 (0%)

 

 3

36 (40%)

0 (0%)

 

Current neurological symptoms

 Disturbed olfaction/gust

   initially

66 (74%)

12 (31%)

 

   currently

44 (50%)

0 (0%)

 

 Impaired attention

89 (100%)

0 (0%)

 

 Memory impairment

89 (100%)

0 (0%)

 

 Impaired multi-tasking

86 (97%)

0 (0%)

 

 Word-finding difficulties

79 (89%)

0 (0%)

 

 Fatigue

85 (96%)

0 (0%)

 

Clinical readouts

MoCA sum score (corrected for years of education; norm ≥ 26/30)

26 [4]; 18 to 30; 36 (41%)

27 [3]; 23 to 30; 7 (18%)

0.003d

MoCA domain scores

   

- Orientation (max. 6 points)

6 [0]; 5 to 6

6 [0]; 5 to 6

 

- Attention (max. 6 points)

6 [0]; 3 to 6

6 [0]; 4 to 6

 

- Language (max. 5 points)

5 [0]; 3 to 5

5 [1]; 3 to 5

 

- Executive (max. 4 points)

3 [1]; 2 to 4

4 [0]; 3 to 4

 

- Visuoconstructive (max. 4 points)

4 [1]; 1 to 4

4 [0]; 3 to 4

 

- Memory (max. 5 points)

3 [3]; 0 to 5

4 [3]; 0 to 5

 

Correct perception of smell (norm ≥11/12)

9 [4]; 0 to 12; 66 (74%)

11 [2]; 7 to 12; 16 (42%)

<0.001d

Würzburg Fatigue Inventory in Multiple Sclerosis score (WEIMuS; norm: ≤33/68)e

43 [17]; 4 to 65; 65 (78%)

7 [18]; 0 to 48; 3 (8%)

<0.001d

- cognitive fatigue (norm: ≤17/36)

22 [10]; 0 to 35; 63 (76%)

4 [10]; 0 to 24; 4 (11%)

<0.001d

- physical fatigue (norm: ≤16/32)

22 [9]; 4 to 32; 64 (77%)

3 [10]; 0 to 24; 1 (3%)

<0.001d

Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15; norm: ≤7/15)e

4 [5]; 1 to 13; 16 (19%)

1 [2]; 0 to 9; 1 (3%)

<0.001d

  1. An extended version of this table with further statistical details can be found in the Supplementary Data 2.
  2. aDisease severity score: (1) no pneumonia; (2) pneumonia, outpatient treatment; (3) pneumonia, inpatient treatment; (4) ARDS, endotracheal ventilation at ICU.
  3. bGrading of current disability: (0) no relevant restrictions; (1) relevant restrictions of daily life activities but able to work; (2) reduction of work quota necessary; (3) inability to work and restriction of daily life activities.
  4. cX² test.
  5. dMann–Whitney-U test.
  6. edata available only for n = 83 patients.
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