Assessment of neurological manifestations in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to assess the neurological manifestations in a series of consecutive SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, comparing their frequency with a population hospitalized in the same period for flu/respiratory symptoms, finally not related to SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled patients with flu-respiratory symptoms admitted to Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli hospital from March, 14th 2020 to April, 20th 2020. Frequency of neurological manifestation of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were compared with control group. RESULTS: 213 patients resulted positive for SARS-CoV-2, after real-time PCR on nasal or throat swabs, while 218 patients resulted negative, and were used as control group. Regarding central nervous system manifestations, we observed in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients a higher frequency of headache, hyposmia, and encephalopathy always related to systemic conditions (fever or hypoxia). Furthermore, muscular involvement was more frequent in SARS-CoV-2 infection. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 commonly have neurologic manifestations but only hyposmia and muscle involvement seem more frequent if compared with other flu diseases.