Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia similar to global reports

The most common neurological manifestations of COVID-19 for individuals living in Saudi Arabia were headache, changes in smell and taste, muscle pain, loss of consciousness and seizures, which were similar to global reports.

“COVID-19 mainly targets the cardiorespiratory system causing cough and fever,” Adnan A. Mubaraki, associate professor at the College of Medicine at Taif University in Saudi Arabia, and colleagues wrote in a study published in Cureus. “The prevalence of neurological manifestations of other coronavirus infections is not well-determined.”

Researchers sought to identify the prevalence of various neurological conditions related to COVID-19 and to assess relationships between disease severity, vaccination status and symptom continuity.

The researchers conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective study in Saudi Arabia between October 2021 and January 2022, and included 2,287 participants (55.4% women), aged 15 years and older, with a history of confirmed COVID-19 infection and no chronic neurological disease. Researchers collected data via a predesigned online survey that included questions about neurological symptoms relating to mood, consciousness, pain and other physical disturbances.

Results showed that most participants (79.1%) were aged 15 to 39 years, with 921 having received a COVID-19 vaccine compared with 1,366 who did not. Among those who were not vaccinated, 14.1% were hospitalized compared with 19.5% who were vaccinated.

Researchers reported that the most common neurological symptoms associated with infection were headache (75.8%), alteration in sense of smell and taste (74.1%), muscle pain (66.2%) and mood disturbances such as anxiety and depression (49.7%).

Data additionally revealed that most acute neurological manifestations, including loss of consciousness and convulsions, were more common in participants aged at least 60 years. Muscle pain was more common in individuals aged 40 to 59 years, and headache and changes in smell and taste were associated with those aged 15 to 39 years.

Further, researchers noted that muscle pain and gait and mood disturbances were more prevalent among women, while loss of consciousness, seizure activity and stroke were more common in men.

“The prevalence of neurological manifestations associated with this infection in Saudi Arabia is similar to many previous studies done globally,” Mubaraki and colleagues wrote.