COVID-19 increases chance of neurological disorders – US study

A recent study suggests that COVID-19 could lead to brain conditions in those who previously contracted the virus. Nature Medicine revealed the potential for brain disorders to surface in former COVID-19 patients.

Parameters for the study

The combined efforts of Dr Ziyad Al-Aly of the Washington University School of Medicine along with his co-workers and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Healthcare System evaluated 154 000 medical records of US veterans previously inflected with COVID-19. 

The records date from 1 March 2020 to 15 January 2021.

The medical records were compared to records of 5.6 million people of the same time period who did not suffer from the Virus. An additional 5.8 million records were used for comparison dating back to just before the start of COVID-19 in the US

Outcome and suggestions of the study

The study indicated a 7% increase in brain-related conditions among people who previously tested positive for COVID-19. The study continued to indicate specific neurological conditions and their risk potential such as:

• A 77% higher risk of developing memory problems;
• A 50% higher chance of ischemic stroke;
• An 80% higher chance of having seizures;
• A 43% higher chance of having mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression;
• A 35% higher risk of headaches and;
• A 42% higher chance of suffering from movement disorders, such as tremors.

Researchers expressed the need for governments to prepare for future COVID-19-related complications.

“Given the colossal scale of the pandemic, meeting these challenges requires urgent and coordinated – but, so far, absent – global, national and regional response strategies,” said Dr Ziyad Al-Aly.

Over 8m Pfizer vaccine doses will expire at the end of October

Meanwhile, it was previously reported that over eight million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are due to expire at the end of next month. These doses are at risk of being destroyed if they are not administered.

The Western Cape Department of Health revealed that it has tried various ways to get people vaccinated against COVID-19. Chief of operations at the Western Cape Health Department Dr Saadiq Kariem said that people are no longer going to vaccination sites.

According to EWN, Dr Kariem said the WC Health Department has been forced to evolve its vaccination campaign. He noted that they have a whole lot of outreach programmes. Read the full story here.