Citicoline effect on cognitive function in COVID-19 patients

I.B. Zueva¹, Yu.V. Kim², M.Yu. Suslova¹

¹Saint Petersburg Medico-Social Institute, Saint Petersburg

²Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg

Background: there is growing evidence that coronaviruses can affect not only the lungs but also other organs and systems, in particular, the central nervous system. However, little is currently known about the coronavirus infection long-term effects on the brain and its consequences in terms of cognitive functioning.

Aim: to study the effect of citicoline therapy on the cognitive functions and emotional status of patients who experienced COVID-19.

Patients and methods: 48 subjects were included in the study. The main group consisted of patients who experienced COVID-19 (n=24, mean age 43.72±5.21 years), the control group — healthy subjects (n=24, mean age 44.18±5.32 years). Patients of the main group were randomized into two subgroups of 12 patients: subgroup A r eceived citicoline orally at a dose of 1000 mg/day (100 mg in 1 ml), subgroup B did not receive treatment. The study duration was 14 days. Neuropsychological test was performed initially and after the end of the study.

Results: the majority of patients who experienced COVID-19 reported the following: persistent fatigue — 24 (100%), poor sleep — 20 (83.3%), palpitations — 20 (83.3%), memory loss — 18 (75%). The main group of patients showed a decrease in the short-term memory index (6.45±1.14 and 8.97±1.51 points, p<0.05), the MMSE test result (27.26±2.10 and 29.81±2.93 points, p<0.05), encryption test (40.37±9.64 and 48.91 ± 9.86 seconds, p<0.05), and increase in the anxiety level (9.34±0,45 and 4.12±0.21 points, p<0.05) versus the control group. In the subgroup A, during citicoline therapy, there was an improvement in memory index (6.48±1.15 and 8.32±1.49 points, p<0.05; 6.53±1.18 and 7.34±1.25 points, respectively, p>0.05), general cognitive functions (27.51±2.13 and 28.89±2.41 points, p<0.05; 27.62±2.29 and 27.95±2.36 points, respectively, p>0.05), encryption test results (40.34±9.61 and 46.72±9.83 seconds, p <0.05; 41.56±9.62 and 42.28±9.75 seconds, respectively, p>0.05), improved sleeping (19.38±0.61 and 21.64±0.74 points, p<0.05; 19.20±0.58 and 19.82±0.63 points, respectively, p>0.05), a decrease in the anxiety level (9.27±0.47 and 7.14±0.31 points, p<0.05; 9,35±0.46 and 8.81±0.44 points, respectively, p>0.05) versus the subgroup B.

Conclusion: there was an improvement in cognitive functions in general, a decrease in anxiety level and normalization of sleep during citicoline treatment of patients who have suffered from COVID-19.

Keywords: cognitive disorders, memory, attention, anxiety, COVID-19, citicoline.

For citation: Zueva I.B., Kim Yu.V., Suslova M.Yu. Citicoline effect on cognitive function in COVID-19 patients. RMJ. 2021;5:2–6.