Assessment of balance after recovery from Covid-19 disease.

Abstract Objective To answer the question whether balance related systems have been affected in adults who recovered from Covid-19 disease. This is the first case-control study to assess balance objectively and quantitatively in Covid-19 disease. Methods Thirty-seven patients who recovered from Covid-19 disease and 30 healthy controls were compared using Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP), Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials(VEMP) and Video Head Impulse Test (v-HIT). Results On CDP, the composite and visual general scores of the patients were significantly lower than controls (p 0.05). Decreased P1/N1 amplitudes and elongated N1 latencies were found on c-VEMP testing (p 0.05). Conclusion The Covid-19 disease can cause dizziness rather that incapacitating vertigo. Dizziness can be seen in almost one-fifth of the adult covid19 out-patients, which may be due to involvement of vestibular and visual systems,ortheir central connections. The squeals created in the balance related systems may be irreversible as they have persisted after the recovery of the patients. It is also plausible to anticipate more severe condition in the older patients who were treated in the intensive care units. In the long term follow up of the survivors, the need for balance rehabilitation programs should be remembered in order to minimize risks of falling down.