Table 2.
Baseline and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with acute ischaemic cerebrovascular syndrome, encephalopathy, encephalitis and GBS
| Characteristic | Acute ischaemic cerebrovascular syndrome (n = 57) | Encephalitis (n = 21) | COVID-19–associated encephalopathy (n = 67) | GBS (n = 15) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years), median (IQR) | 65 (55–78) | 67 (51–70) | 68 (61–75) | 59 (53–65) |
| Male | 34 (59.6) | 15 (71.4) | 41 (60.3) | 13 (86.7) |
| Medical history | ||||
| Prior stroke | 8 (14.0) | 0 | 4 (6.0) | 1 (6.7) |
| Neurodegenerative disease | 1 (1.8) | 1 (4.8) | 20 (29.9) | 0 |
| Vascular comorbiditiesa | 43 (75.4) | NA | NA | NA |
| Severity of COVID-19 | ||||
| Mild | 21 (36.8) | 4 (19) | 6 (9.0) | 7 (46.7) |
| Moderate | 16 (28.1) | 7 (33.3) | 16 (23.9) | 3 (20.0) |
| Severe | 13 (22.8) | 3 (14.3) | 16 (23.9) | 1 (6.7) |
| Critical | 7 (12.3) | 7 (33.3) | 29 (43.3) | 4 (26.7) |
| Neurologic manifestations occurrence | ||||
| Neurologic manifestations occurring as first symptoms | 14 (24.6) | 1 (4.8) | 15 (22.4) | 0 |
| Neurologic manifestation occurring after first COVID-19 symptoms | 40 (70.2) | 14 (66.7) | 32 (47.8) | 12 (80.0) |
| Time between first symptoms and neurologic manifestation, median (IQR), day | 12 (7–18) | 7 (5–10) | 6 (3–8) | 18 (15–28) |
| Neurologic manifestation after withholding sedation in ICU | 3 (5.3) | 6 (28.6) | 20 (29.9) | 3 (20.0) |
| Neurologic symptoms | ||||
| Headache | 2 (3.5) | 3 (14.3) | 6 (9.0) | 0 |
| Altered mental status | 8 (14.0) | 21 (100) | 67 (100) | 3 (20.0) |
| Seizure | 1 (1.8) | 2 (9.5) | 7 (10.4) | 0 |
| Focal central neurologic symptoms | 56 (98.2) | 12 (57.1) | 13 (19.4) | 2 (13.3) |
| Motor or sensitive deficit | 42 (73.7) | 2 (9.5) | 1 (1.5) | 1 (6.7) |
| Cerebellar ataxia | 6 (10.5) | 6 (28.6) | 9 (13.4) | 0 |
| Pyramidal syndrome | NA | 6 (28.6) | 4 (6.0) | 0 |
| Central oculomotor syndrome | 6 (10.5) | 1 (4.8) | 1 (1.5) | 1 (6.7) |
| Movement disorder | 0 | 6 (28.6) | 3 (4.5) | 1 (6.7) |
| Peripheral limb weakness | 1 (1.8) | 2 (9.5) | 7 (10.4) | 11 (73.3) |
| Cranial neuropathy | 0 | 1 (4.8) | 2 (3.0) | 4 (26.7) |
| Follow-up (days), median (IQR) | 24 (16–32) | 21 (18–29) | 28 (19–37) | 18 (14–29) |
| Resolution of neurologic symptoms | 21 (36.8) | 10 (47.6) | 34 (50.7) | 1 (6.7) |
| Death | 9 (15.8) | 1 (4.8) | 10 (14.9) | 0 |
Data are presented as n (%) unless otherwise indicated. COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; GBS, Guillain-Barré syndrome; ICU, intensive care unit; IQR, interquartile range; NA, not applicable.
a
Vascular comorbidities were only collected for patients with stroke. Data collected included hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.