OBJECTIVE A subset of individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) appears to develop persisting cognitive and medical symptoms. Research in the acute stages of illness, generally utilizing cognitive screening measures or case reports, suggests presence of deficits in attention and executive function. This observational study investigated cognitive functioning among individuals with persistent cognitive complaints about 5.5 months after COVID-19 infection. METHODS Patients with polymerase chain reaction confirmed COVID-19 and persistent cognitive complaints underwent comprehensive in-person neuropsychological evaluations. Patients with prior neurological disorders were excluded. When diagnosed, 40% required hospitalization, 15% were in an intensive care unit, 10% needed mechanical ventilation, and 10% experienced delirium. RESULTS This sample was predominately women (90%), White non-Hispanic (70%), with average education of 15 years. Mild cognitive deficits were seen on tests involving attention and processing speed or executive function. Seventy percent of patients were diagnosed with a mood disorder prior to COVID-19 infection. At the time of testing, 35%-40% endorsed moderate to severe mood symptoms and 85% noted significant fatigue as measured by the Fatigue Severity Scale. CONCLUSIONS The pattern of cognitive deficits, although mild, is consistent with prior research at the acute stage of the illness. These findings suggest that psychological factors and other persisting symptoms (e.g., sleep, fatigue) may play a significant role in subjective cognitive complaints in patients with persisting complaints post COVID-19 who did not require intensive treatment. These patients would likely benefit from resources to manage persisting or new mood symptoms and compensatory strategies for the cognitive inefficiencies they experience.

中文翻译：

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与 COVID-19 相关的持续认知症状患者的神经认知特征。

目标 2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 患者的一部分似乎会出现持续的认知和医学症状。对疾病急性期的研究，通常使用认知筛查措施或病例报告，表明注意力和执行功能存在缺陷。这项观察性研究调查了感染 COVID-19 后约 5.5 个月有持续认知问题的个体的认知功能。方法 聚合酶链反应确诊 COVID-19 和持续认知不适的患者接受了全面的面对面神经心理学评估。既往有神经系统疾病的患者被排除在外。确诊时，40% 需要住院治疗，15% 在重症监护室，10% 需要机械通气，10% 出现谵妄。结果 该样本主要是女性（90%）、非西班牙裔白人（70%），平均受教育年限为 15 年。在涉及注意力和处理速度或执行功能的测试中发现了轻度认知缺陷。70% 的患者在感染 COVID-19 之前被诊断出患有情绪障碍。在测试时，35%-40% 的人表示有中度至重度的情绪症状，85% 的人表示用疲劳严重程度量表测量有明显的疲劳。结论 认知缺陷的模式虽然轻微，但与疾病急性期的先前研究一致。这些发现表明，心理因素和其他持续症状（例如，睡眠、疲劳）可能在 COVID-19 后持续主诉且不需要强化治疗的患者的主观认知主诉中起重要作用。