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Pandemic

Neuropathic Pain is Associated With Cognitive Dysfunction and Reduced Quality of Life in Long Covid

(Scientific Session) Neuropathic Pain Is Associated with Cognitive Dysfunction and Reduced Quality of Life in Long Covid

Friday, November 17, 2023

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM CT

Location: CC 216

Primary Author(s)

Maanas Chiplunkar, Other (he/him/his)

Medical Student
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Livingston, New Jersey

Co-Author(s)

LT

LAURA TABACOF, MD

Assistant Professor
Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai
New York, New York
JW

Jamie Wood, PhD, PT

Research Instructor
n/a
New York, New York
DW

Daniel Weng, MD

Resident Physician
Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai PM&R Program
New York, New York
David Putrino, PhD, PT

Associate Professor
Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai
new york, New York

Background and/or Objectives: Individuals with Long Covid (LC) experience symptoms months to years after initial infection. Neuropathic pain (NP) has recently emerged as a common symptom seen in LC, but data is lacking regarding associations between NP and other LC symptoms. The goal is to determine associations between NP and other symptoms secondary to LC.

Design: Cross sectional observational study.

Setting: Clinical survey administered at the Post Acute Covid Clinic at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Participants: Individuals with LC.

Interventions: not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures: Symptom Checklist, Self-Administered Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS), EuroQoL Visual Analog Scale (EQ VAS), Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (NeuroQoL). NP and NNP groups were decided using S-LANSS criteria (≥12). Analyses were conducted using chi square and independent T-tests.

Results: 153 individuals with LC were included and allocated to NP (n=31, 26 [83.9%] F, mean [SD] age 48 [14] years) and non-neuropathic pain (NNP) (122, 85 [69.7%] F, 46 [13]) groups. The most common symptoms were similar in both groups, being fatigue (NP n=28 [90%]; NNP n=102 [84%]), difficulty with concentration/reading/brain fog (26 [84%]; 87 [71%]) and headache (26 [84%]; 71 [58%]), respectively. Lower NeuroQoL T-scores were observed in the NP group (35 [8]) compared to the NNP group (40 [10]), p=0.01. In all participants, NP was associated with the presence of cognitive dysfunction (mild or greater), χ2 5.8, p=0.02. Lower EQ5 scores were observed in the NP group (52 [20]) compared to the NNP group (60 [20]), p=0.04.

Conclusions: NP group was associated with higher proportions of cognitive dysfunction and reduced quality of life, compared to NNP group. NP and cognitive dysfunction secondary to LC may have similar pathophysiology. The presence of NP may negatively impact cognition and quality of life in individuals with LC.