Neurological disorders throughout acute SARS-CoV2 infection: A comparative study between vaccinated and non-vaccinated patients

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.122898
• Publication Date: 2024-01-23T12:38:08Z
• Authors: Viviana Cristillo; Andrea Pilotto; Stefano Cotti Pic...; Ilenia Libri; Martina Locatelli; Marcello Giunta; Valentina Mazzoleni; Debora Pezzini; Davide Arici; Stefano Gipponi; Francesca Schiano...; Elisabetta Cottini; Massimo Gamba; Mauro Magoni; Alessandro Padovani
• Keywords: COVID-19; Mortality; Neurological disease; Vaccine; 3. Good health

Abstract Background The role of vaccination on Covid-19 severity in neurological patients is still unknown. We aim at describing clinical characteristics and outcomes of breakthrough and unvaccinated Covid-19 patients hospitalized for neurological disorders. Methods Two hundred thirty-two Covid-19 patients were admitted to a neuro-Covid Unit form March 2021 to February 2022. Out of the total sample, 74 (32%) were full vaccinated. The prevalence, clinical characteristics and final outcomes of neurological syndromes were compared between vaccinated and unvaccinated cases. Results Breakthrough vaccinated cases were older (years 72.4+16.3 vs 67.0+18.9 years, p=0.029), showed higher pre-admission comorbidity score and Clinical Frailty scale score (4.46+1.6 vs 3.75+2.0, p=0.008) with no differences in terms of disease progression or mortality rate (16.2% vs 15.2%), compared to full-dose vaccinated patients. Cox-regression analysis showed age and NEWS2 score as the variables with a significant relation to mortality between the two groups, independently from pre-morbid conditions and inflammatory response. Conclusion This study on breakthrough COVID-19 infection could help identify vulnerable neurological patients with higher risk of poor outcomes.