COVID-19 may attack the central nervous system of patients with coronavirus | Health News

Ohio: Depression and anxiety seen in COVID-19 patients may be a sign that the virus affects the central nervous system, according to an international study led by the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine.

Studies have shown that these two psychological symptoms were most closely associated with odor and taste loss, rather than more serious indicators of the new coronavirus, such as shortness of breath, cough, and fever.

“When I’m asked why I’m depressed or anxious when I’m COVID positive, it’s because my symptoms are severe, short of breath, or unable to breathe, or symptoms like coughing or high blood pressure. “I have a fever,” said Dr. Ahmad Sedagat, MD, head and neck surgery at the University of California School of Medicine’s Otolaryngology Department, who is an associate professor and director of rhinology, allergies, and anterior skull base surgery.

“Any of these symptoms that predict morbidity or mortality were related to how depressed or anxious these patients were,” said UC Health Doctor, who specializes in nasal and sinus disorders. Said Sedagat.

“The only factor associated with depressive mood and anxiety in COVID-19 was the severity of the patient’s loss of olfaction and taste. This was an unexpected shocking result,” Sedaghat added.

Sedagat conducted a prospective, cross-sectional telephone questionnaire survey investigating the characteristics and symptoms of 114 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 over 6 weeks at Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland.

The severity of odor or taste loss during COVID-19, nasal obstruction, excessive mucus production, fever, cough, and shortness of breath were assessed. Research results are available online from the laryngoscope.

The first author of the study was Marlene M Speth, MD, and other co-authors include Thirza Singer-Cornelius, MD. Michael Oberle, PhD; Isabelle Gengler, MD; and Steffi Brockmeier, MD. At the time of enrollment in the study, when participants were experiencing COVID-19, 47.4% of participants reported depressed mood for at least a few days per week, and 21.1% felt depressed almost every day. I reported.

Regarding severity, 44.7% of participants reported expressing mild anxiety, and 10.5% reported severe anxiety. “The unexpected finding that the least anxious symptoms of COVID-19 may cause the greatest degree of psychological distress could potentially tell us something about the disease.” There is,” said Seda Hut.

“Our findings suggest that psychological distress in the form of depressed mood or anxiety may reflect the penetration of the COVID-19-causing virus, SARS-CoV-2, into the central nervous system. “I think it is,” he added.

The researchers have long thought that the olfactory tract may be the main way coronavirus enters the central nervous system, says Sedagart. This was evidenced by SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, the first viral outbreak in China in November 2002 that spread through international travel to 29 countries.

Studies using mouse models of the virus indicate that the olfactory tract, or the nasal-to-brain transmission of odors, is an entrance to the central nervous system and a brain infection.

“These symptoms of psychological distress, such as depressed mood and anxiety, are central nervous system symptoms when they are only associated with decreased olfaction,” Sedagat said.

“This may indicate that the virus infects olfactory neurons, lowers olfaction, and then uses the olfactory tract to enter central nervous system symptoms,” Sedahut added.

COVID-19’s rare but severe central nervous system symptoms, such as seizures and changes in mental status, have been reported, but decreased mood and anxiety are the most common but milder central nervous system symptoms of COVID-19. That could be, Sedaghat explains.

“There may be an invasion of the virus into the central nervous system, rather than based on the prevalence of olfactory-related depressive mood and anxiety. This is how the virus interacts with the central nervous system. Will open the door for future investigations,” said Sedagat.