Neurologic symptoms following COVID-19 in Lima, Peru: a prospective longitudinal observational study
IntroductionThere is limited research on long-term neurologic symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection in Peru. This study aimed to describe the longitudinal experience of survivors of mild to moderate COVID-19 in Lima, Peru.MethodsThis prospective, longitudinal observational study included neurologi...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| author | Hanalise V. Huff Hanalise V. Huff Carla Villanueva-Colina Monica M. Diaz Sofia Tovar Andrea Davila Luna Tianxia Wu Davidson H. Hamer Davidson H. Hamer Davidson H. Hamer Igor J. Koralnik Tom Solomon Tom Solomon Miguela A. Caniza Patricia J. Garcia |
| author_facet | Hanalise V. Huff Hanalise V. Huff Carla Villanueva-Colina Monica M. Diaz Sofia Tovar Andrea Davila Luna Tianxia Wu Davidson H. Hamer Davidson H. Hamer Davidson H. Hamer Igor J. Koralnik Tom Solomon Tom Solomon Miguela A. Caniza Patricia J. Garcia |
| author_sort | Hanalise V. Huff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThere is limited research on long-term neurologic symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection in Peru. This study aimed to describe the longitudinal experience of survivors of mild to moderate COVID-19 in Lima, Peru.MethodsThis prospective, longitudinal observational study included neurologic follow-up data between 3- and 12-months following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recruitment to a parent study: “Natural History of SARS-CoV-2 in Comparison to Influenza Virus: A Multi-site Study Focused on the Southern Hemisphere and Equatorial Regions” (COFLU Peru), occurred between February 2021 and February 2022 in a Callao, Peru public hospital emergency department. In-person visits for this sub-study, “Neuro COFLU,” included neurologic history and symptom questionnaire.ResultsFifty-four patients were seen for at least one visit, two of whom required hospitalization for COVID-19. Forty-one (76%) reported at least one pre-existing neurologic diagnosis (59% headaches; 24% migraines). At follow-up visits, patients reported at least one new neurologic symptom since COVID-19: 24/29 (83%) at 90 days, 31/42 (74%) at 180 days, 41/46 (89%) at 270 days, and 20/21 (95%) at 365 days. The median number of new symptoms was 3 at 90 days, 3 at 180, 4 at 270 and 3 at 365 days. Days 90–180 frequent symptoms included: muscular pain, neck stiffness, headache, loss of appetite, numbness, insomnia, and weakness (24–31%). Days 181–365 frequent symptoms included: fatigue, weakness, memory problems, irritability, changes in hearing, muscular pain, joint pain, and insomnia (28–33%). Pre-existing anxiety was associated with post-COVID-19 hearing changes, muscular pain, numbness and weakness and pre-existing depression with neck stiffness and numbness. No significant association was found with age, sex, vaccination status, or pre-existing headaches. Full recovery was reported for 6/29 (21%) at day 90, 13/42 (31%) at day 180, 17/46 (37%) at day 270, and 9/20 (45%) at day 365. By day 365, patients reported median recovery of 85–90%.DiscussionPersistent neurological symptoms are common in COVID-19 survivors in Lima. Many new neurologic symptoms persisted and increased in prevalence over 3–12 months. Limitations include lack of control group and small sample size. Longitudinal studies of outcomes are needed to predict and mitigate the long-term physical, social and economic effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection. |
| format | Article |
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| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-ef9e81b28a1444d28f5de1e8aaef86b52025-07-21T14:45:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-07-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15246131524613Neurologic symptoms following COVID-19 in Lima, Peru: a prospective longitudinal observational studyHanalise V. Huff0Hanalise V. Huff1Carla Villanueva-Colina2Monica M. Diaz3Sofia Tovar4Andrea Davila Luna5Tianxia Wu6Davidson H. Hamer7Davidson H. Hamer8Davidson H. Hamer9Igor J. Koralnik10Tom Solomon11Tom Solomon12Miguela A. Caniza13Patricia J. Garcia14Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United StatesSection of Infections of the Nervous System, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United StatesSchool of Medicine, Cayetano Heredia University, Lima, PeruDepartment of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesSchool of Medicine, Cayetano Heredia University, Lima, PeruSchool of Medicine, Cayetano Heredia University, Lima, PeruClinical Trials Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United StatesSection of Infectious Diseases, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United StatesBoston University Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA, United StatesKen and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United StatesThe Pandemic Institute and The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom0The Pandemic Institute and The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom1The Walton Centre, NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom2Department of Global Pediatric Medicine and Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States3School of Public Health, Cayetano Heredia University, Lima, PeruIntroductionThere is limited research on long-term neurologic symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection in Peru. This study aimed to describe the longitudinal experience of survivors of mild to moderate COVID-19 in Lima, Peru.MethodsThis prospective, longitudinal observational study included neurologic follow-up data between 3- and 12-months following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recruitment to a parent study: “Natural History of SARS-CoV-2 in Comparison to Influenza Virus: A Multi-site Study Focused on the Southern Hemisphere and Equatorial Regions” (COFLU Peru), occurred between February 2021 and February 2022 in a Callao, Peru public hospital emergency department. In-person visits for this sub-study, “Neuro COFLU,” included neurologic history and symptom questionnaire.ResultsFifty-four patients were seen for at least one visit, two of whom required hospitalization for COVID-19. Forty-one (76%) reported at least one pre-existing neurologic diagnosis (59% headaches; 24% migraines). At follow-up visits, patients reported at least one new neurologic symptom since COVID-19: 24/29 (83%) at 90 days, 31/42 (74%) at 180 days, 41/46 (89%) at 270 days, and 20/21 (95%) at 365 days. The median number of new symptoms was 3 at 90 days, 3 at 180, 4 at 270 and 3 at 365 days. Days 90–180 frequent symptoms included: muscular pain, neck stiffness, headache, loss of appetite, numbness, insomnia, and weakness (24–31%). Days 181–365 frequent symptoms included: fatigue, weakness, memory problems, irritability, changes in hearing, muscular pain, joint pain, and insomnia (28–33%). Pre-existing anxiety was associated with post-COVID-19 hearing changes, muscular pain, numbness and weakness and pre-existing depression with neck stiffness and numbness. No significant association was found with age, sex, vaccination status, or pre-existing headaches. Full recovery was reported for 6/29 (21%) at day 90, 13/42 (31%) at day 180, 17/46 (37%) at day 270, and 9/20 (45%) at day 365. By day 365, patients reported median recovery of 85–90%.DiscussionPersistent neurological symptoms are common in COVID-19 survivors in Lima. Many new neurologic symptoms persisted and increased in prevalence over 3–12 months. Limitations include lack of control group and small sample size. Longitudinal studies of outcomes are needed to predict and mitigate the long-term physical, social and economic effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1524613/fullLong-COVIDneurologicglobal healthLatin AmericaCOVID-19Peru |
| spellingShingle | Hanalise V. Huff Hanalise V. Huff Carla Villanueva-Colina Monica M. Diaz Sofia Tovar Andrea Davila Luna Tianxia Wu Davidson H. Hamer Davidson H. Hamer Davidson H. Hamer Igor J. Koralnik Tom Solomon Tom Solomon Miguela A. Caniza Patricia J. Garcia Neurologic symptoms following COVID-19 in Lima, Peru: a prospective longitudinal observational study Frontiers in Neurology Long-COVID neurologic global health Latin America COVID-19 Peru |
| title | Neurologic symptoms following COVID-19 in Lima, Peru: a prospective longitudinal observational study |
| title_full | Neurologic symptoms following COVID-19 in Lima, Peru: a prospective longitudinal observational study |
| title_fullStr | Neurologic symptoms following COVID-19 in Lima, Peru: a prospective longitudinal observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neurologic symptoms following COVID-19 in Lima, Peru: a prospective longitudinal observational study |
| title_short | Neurologic symptoms following COVID-19 in Lima, Peru: a prospective longitudinal observational study |
| title_sort | neurologic symptoms following covid 19 in lima peru a prospective longitudinal observational study |
| topic | Long-COVID neurologic global health Latin America COVID-19 Peru |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1524613/full |
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