Stratification of clinical groups in patients with post-COVID syndrome
N. V. Halinouskaya,
E. V. Voropaev,
A. A. Barbarovich,
N. V. Bobovich,
O. V. Osipkina,
E. V. Boeva,
I. O. Stoma https://doi.org/10.51523/2708-6011.2025-22-2-01
Abstract
Objective. To study clinical features structure of post-COVID syndrome, and possibilities of stratification of subgroups of patients recovered from SARS COV-2 infection by severity.
Materials and methods. Study design: observational, cross-sectional.
In the period 2023-2024, 101 patients (44 men, 57 women; median age is 47.5 [41; 54] years old) with post-COVID syndrome (6-12 months after reconvalescentia) and 14 individuals in control group (4 men, 10 women; median age is 40 [28; 50] years old) were examined.
All patients underwent clinical, neurological and psychological examination, filled out a checklist to identify signs of post-COVID syndrome. Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) scale and the Amatuni correction test were used to assess cognitive functions. Personal and reactive anxiety was determined using the Spielberger-Hanin questionnaire, subjective vegetative status - by filling out the A.M. Vein questionnaire.
The obtained data were processed in the STATISTICA 10.0 software package, using descriptive statistics, cluster analysis, the Mann-Whitney U-test, the Kruskal-Wallis H-test, and the χ2 test.
Results. An attempt to divide a group of post-COVID patients into two subgroups according to the checklis, based on the most common neurological complaints, revealed differences between subgroups in the state of cognitive functions according to MMSE, Amatuni test and muscle fatigue. Follow-up cluster analysis according to the checklist scores and MMSE made it possible to identify three subgroups, in which differences in the parameters studied were already more significant.
Boundary parameters for subdividing a group of post-COVID patients according to the checklist score are defined as: 1-3 points — a subgroup with mild disorders, 4-7 points — moderate severity, more than 8 points — heavy severity.
Conclusion. Clinical and neuropsychological analysis of the condition of post-COVID patients made it possible to identify three subgroups of patients with varying severity of disorders, and to form a diagnostic tool for their division. Further study of the resulting subgroups will help to optimize the study of pathogenetic mechanisms for the formation of long-term maladaptation.
Keywords
post-COVID,
cognitive impairment,
subjective vegetative status,
severity of post-covid syndrome,
neuropsychological status
Supporting agencies: The study was conducted within scientific research “Metabolic, structural and molecular-genetic factors of development of cognitive and psychoneurological disorders in people in the post-COVID period of the disease. Grounding and development of diagnostic and corrective technologies” and supported by the Belarusian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research (BRFFR) of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (the Agreement with BRFFR No. M23RNF-134 dated 02.01.2023).
About the Authors
N. V. Halinouskaya
Gomel State Medical University
Belarus
Belarus
Natallia V. Halinouskaya - Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Advanced Training and Retraining, Gomel State Medical University.
Gomel
E. V. Voropaev
Gomel State Medical University
Belarus
Belarus
Evgenii V. Voropaev - Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, Vice-Rector for Scientific Work, Gomel State Medical University.
Gomel
A. A. Barbarovich
Gomel State Medical University
Belarus
Belarus
Anastasia A. Barbarovich - Assistant at the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery with courses in Medical Rehabilitation and Psychiatry, Gomel State Medical University.
Gomel
N. V. Bobovich
Gomel Regional Clinical Oncological Dispensary
Belarus
Belarus
Natalia V. Bobovich - Radiologist of the MRI room of the X-ray Department, Gomel Regional Clinical Oncological Dispensary.
Gomel
O. V. Osipkina
Gomel State Medical University
Belarus
Belarus
Olga V. Osipkina - Head of the Scientific and Research Laboratory, Gomel State Medical University.
Gomel
E. V. Boeva
Saint-Petersburg Pasteur Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of Rospotrebnadzor; Academician I.P. Pavlov First Saint-Petersburg State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ekaterina V. Boeva - Candidate of Medical Sciences, Infectious Disease Physician, Head of the Department of Chronic Virus Infection, Saint-Petersburg Pasteur Institute; Assistant at the Department of Socially Significant Infections and Phthisiopulmonology, Academician I.P. Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University.
Saint-Petersburg
I. O. Stoma
Gomel State Medical University
Belarus
Belarus
Igor O. Stoma - Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Rector of the Gomel State Medical University.
Gomel
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For citations:
Halinouskaya N.V., Voropaev E.V., Barbarovich A.A., Bobovich N.V., Osipkina O.V., Boeva E.V., Stoma I.O. Stratification of clinical groups in patients with post-COVID syndrome. Health and Ecology Issues. 2025;22(2):7-17. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.51523/2708-6011.2025-22-2-01
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