Neurocognitive and Psychosocial Characteristics of Pediatric Patients With Post-Acute/Long-COVID: A Retrospective Clinical Case Series

Abstract

Objective

Studies suggest a large number of patients have persistent symptoms following COVID-19 infection—a condition termed “long COVID.” Although children and parents often report cognitive difficulties after COVID, very few if any studies have been published including neuropsychological testing.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was completed for the first 18 patients referred for a neuropsychological evaluation from a multidisciplinary pediatric post-COVID clinic. The neuropsychological screening battery assessed verbal fluency and category switching, attention, working memory, processing speed, and verbal learning and memory. Patients’ caregivers also completed standardized questionnaires regarding day-to-day mood and behavior.

Results

At intake, the most common neurologic symptoms reported by caregivers were attention problems (83.3%), fatigue/lethargy (77.7%), sleep disturbance (77.7%), dizziness/vertigo (72.2%), and headaches (72.2%). On rating scales, most caregivers endorsed concerns for depressed mood and anxiety (14/15 and 12/15). A large proportion of patients had difficulties with attention (9/18) and depressed mood/anxiety (13/18) before COVID. On cognitive testing, the majority of the patients performed within or above broad average range (≥16th percentile) across most domains. However, a little over half of the patients performed below average on auditory attention measures.

Conclusions

Within our clinically referred sample, children who reported lingering cognitive symptoms after COVID-19 often had a preexisting history of attention and/or mood and anxiety concerns. Many of these patients performed below average in attention testing, but it remains to be seen whether this was due to direct effects of COVID, physical symptoms, and/or preexisting difficulties with attention or mood/anxiety.