July 17, 2020

Neurological and Musculoskeletal Features of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Clinical Characteristics and Health Care Setting

• A systematic literature review and meta-analysis (n=51 studies) of neurological and musculoskeletal features of COVID-19 found the prevalence of smell impairment was 35% (95% CI 0-94%), 33% for taste impairment (95% CI 0-91%), 19% for myalgia (95% CI 16-23%), 12% for headache (95% CI 9-15%), 10% for back pain (95% CI 1%-23%), 10% for dizziness (95% CI 3-19%), 3% for acute cerebrovascular disease (95% CI 1-5%), and 2% for impaired consciousness (95% CI 1-2%). There was substantial heterogeneity between studies (large I2 values) indicating substantial differences in the prevalence of several of these symptoms between included studies. 

Abdullahi et al. (2020). Neurological and Musculoskeletal Features of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Neurology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.00687