Objective: To assess morbidity and mortality of acute COVID-19 infection in hospitalized patients with neurodegenerative diseases and compare with age-matched controls.

Background: Outcomes from COVID-19 hospitalization amongst patients with pre-existing neurodegenerative diseases are not well-described. We hypothesize they may have increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to baseline disability and neurologic dysfunction.

Method: Retrospective cohort study using Rush COVID-19 Registry, which includes data from 3 hospitals in Chicagoland. Adults hospitalized with acute COVID-19 infection within a 3-month period (March to June 2020) were included, and two cohorts were created including a neurodegenerative cohort (ND) identified based on ICD-10 codes (for dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and others) and control cohort who were 1:1 age-matched with ND subjects. Primary outcomes were death, intubation and ICU admission, which were compared using chi squared test with p<0.05 considered significant. Secondary outcomes included presenting COVID-19 symptoms, length of stay, discharge disposition, oxygen use and development of encephalopathy.

Results: We included 132 ND subjects and 132 controls. Baseline demographic characteristics were similar between the two groups. There was no difference in mortality or ICU admission, however invasive ventilation was more frequent in the control group. COVID-19 infection was more likely to present as altered mental status in ND subjects, whereas respiratory symptoms were more common amongst controls. ND subjects had higher rates of encephalopathy during the hospitalization and controls received oxygen therapy more frequently. Finally, ND subjects were more commonly discharged to nursing home or hospice, and controls tended to be discharged to acute rehabilitation facility or home.

Conclusion: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with neurodegenerative diseases had similar mortality rates compared to age-matched controls, but were more likely to develop encephalopathy. Future studies can assess long-term sequelae. This abstract was also presented at 2021 American Academy of Neurology meeting, and manuscript is under consideration by medical journal at the time of abstract submission for MDS conference.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/morbidity-and-mortality-from-neurodegenerative-patients-hospitalized-with-covid-19-in-the-chicagoland-area/