Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

July 17, 2020

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

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  • 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 Ivalues) 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