Joebges, Michael and Tempfli, Melanie and Kohl, Christoph and Herrmann, Christoph and Kelm, Stefan and Kupferschmitt, Alexa Alica and Montanari, Ida and Walter, Nike and Suetfels, Gerhard and Loew, Thomas and Koellner, Volker and Hinterberger, Thilo (2025) Neuropsychological outcome of indoor rehabilitation in post-COVID-19 condition-results of the PoCoRe study. FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY, 15: 1486751. ISSN 1664-2295,
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Background Post COVID-19 condition (PCC) is increasingly recognized as a debilitating condition characterized by persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Neuropsychological deficits, including cognitive impairments and fatigue, are prevalent in individuals with PCC. The PoCoRe study aimed to evaluate the burden of neuropsychological deficits in PCC patients undergoing multidisciplinary indoor rehabilitation and to describe possible changes in this symptomatology.Methods The PoCoRe study, a prospective, non-randomized, controlled longitudinal study, recruited PCC patients from six German indoor rehabilitation centers. Eligible participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessments at admission and discharge. Various measures were employed, including the fatigue scale for motor functioning and cognition (FSMC), the Test Battery for Attention (TAP) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).Results Out of the 1,086 recruited participants, a total of N = 701 participants were included in the main data analysis. The prevalence of fatigue on admission was high (84.6%) and decreased significantly by discharge (77.4%), with a mild effect size. Reaction times on the alertness subtest were abnormal in 70% of patients on admission and 50% on discharge. Sustained attention was abnormal in 55% of patients on admission, decreasing to 43% on discharge. These differences were significant with mild effect sizes. Furthermore, of the 27% of participants with pathological MoCA scores at admission, 63% improved to normative levels during rehabilitation, indicating a significant treatment effect (p <= 0.001). However, the MoCA demonstrated limited sensitivity in detecting attention deficits.Conclusion The PoCoRe study highlights the high prevalence of neuropsychological deficits and fatigue in PCC patients, with notable improvements observed following multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Challenges remain in accurately identifying and addressing these deficits, underscoring the importance of comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and tailored rehabilitation interventions. Further research is warranted to optimize screening tools and enhance neuropsychological care for PCC patients in both rehabilitation and outpatient settings.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION; COVID-19; post COVID condition (PCC); neurologic rehabilitation; neuropsychology; fatigue; Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) |
| Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine |
| Divisions: | Medicine > Abteilung für Psychosomatische Medizin |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Jul 2026 09:21 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Jul 2026 09:21 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/67320 |
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