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Comparative evaluation of memory in patients with a history of COVID-19: objective performance vs. self-perception
Comparative evaluation of memory in patients with a history of COVID-19: objective performance vs. self-perception
Pedro Trujillo-Zambrano 1 
, Ricardo Juárez-Ruiz 1, Paulina C. Murphy-Ruiz 1, Emilio Arch-Tirado 2 , Ana L. Lino-González 3
1 Subdirección de Audiología, Foniatría y Patología del Lenguaje, Servicio de Patología del Lenguaje Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra (INR LGII), Ciudad de México, México; 2 Neurological Center, Centro Médico ABC Santa Fe, Mexico City. Mexico; 3 Subdirection of Biomedical Research, Neuroscience Division, Clinical Neuroscience Service, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
*Correspondence: Ana L. Lino-González. Email: ana_onil@yahoo.com.mx
Abstract
Background: Recovered COVID-19 patients have shown a decrease in cognitive performance, with memory alterations being particularly prominent.
Objective: To objectively compare memory performance in patients with a history of COVID-19 and self-perception of good or poor memory function.
Method: Cross-sectional, descriptive, and comparative study. Sociodemographic characteristics and memory function data were obtained from 38 volunteers with a history of COVID-19 who self-perceived good or poor memory function. Chi-square and Student’s t-tests were used to compare performance between groups. Correlations between age, years of education, and memory performance were examined, and tetra-variable histograms were constructed.
Results: Significant differences were found between groups in the logical memory stories and name recall subtests, as well as in anosmia, fatigue, and rhinorrhea. Days of oxygen therapy showed a difference between groups (14.8 vs. 3.4) without reaching significance. A correlation was found between age, years of education, and memory performance.
Conclusion: Decreased memory function was observed, particularly in patients who reported poor self-perception of memory function. The presence of dyspnea and the need for oxygen therapy appear to contribute to memory impairment.
Keywords: COVID-19. Memory. Self-perception of memory. Oxygen therapy. Dyspnea.
