OBJECTIVES

While many healthcare workers (HCWs) contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic, more information is needed to fully understand the potential for adverse health effects in this population segment. The aim of the present study is to examine the association between healthcare worker status and neurologic and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 infected inpatients.

Using the nationwide database provided by the retrospective cohort Philippine CORONA study, we extracted relevant data and performed a secondary analysis primarily focusing on the presentation and outcomes of healthcare workers. Propensity score matching in a 3:1 ratio was performed to match HCWs and non-HCWs. We performed multiple logistic and Cox regression analyses to determine the relationship between HCWs and COVID-19 clinical outcomes.

We included 3,362 patients infected with COVID-19; of which, 854 were HCWs. Among the HCWs, a total of 31 (3.63%) and 45 (5.27%) had the primary outcomes of in-hospital mortality and respiratory failure, respectively. For both overall and 3:1 propensity-matched cohorts, being an HCW significantly decreased the odds of the following outcomes: severe/critical COVID-19 at nadir; in-hospital mortality; respiratory failure; intensive care unit admission; and hospital stay >14 days.

We found that being an HCW is not associated with worse neurologic and clinical outcomes among patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Objectives: While many healthcare workers (HCWs) contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic, more information is needed to fully understand the potential for adverse health effects in this population segment. The aim of the present study is to examine the association between healthcare worker status and neurologic and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 infected inpatients. Methods: Using the nationwide database provided by the retrospective cohort Philippine CORONA study, we extracted relevant data and performed a secondary analysis primarily focusing on the presentation and outcomes of healthcare workers. Propensity score matching in a 3:1 ratio was performed to match HCWs and non-HCWs. We performed multiple logistic and Cox regression analyses to determine the relationship between HCWs and COVID-19 clinical outcomes. Results: We included 3,362 patients infected with COVID-19; of which, 854 were HCWs. Among the HCWs, a total of 31 (3.63%) and 45 (5.27%) had the primary outcomes of in-hospital mortality and respiratory failure, respectively. For both overall and 3:1 propensity-matched cohorts, being an HCW significantly decreased the odds of the following outcomes: severe/critical COVID-19 at nadir; in-hospital mortality; respiratory failure; intensive care unit admission; and hospital stay >14 days. Conclusion We found that being an HCW is not associated with worse neurologic and clinical outcomes among patients hospitalized for COVID-19.
Health Personnel ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Cohort Studies

Objective: Since the release of vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there have been reports of vaccine-related neurologic complications. This study aimed to perform a descriptive systematic review of movement disorders associated with COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: We described the demographics, clinical presentation, management, outcomes, and proposed pathomechanism of the patients. A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A standardized tool was used to assess the quality of the cases. Results: We identified 8 articles that met our inclusion criteria; these articles included 10 patients who developed movement disorders after vaccination. The majority were males (n = 8), with a median age of 64.5 years. The most common movement disorder was hemichorea. The rest presented with generalized chorea with myoclonus, cervical dystonia, and akathisia. Most patients respond to immunotherapy. The standardized tool used showed that most studies had a low risk of bias. Conclusion The reported incidence of vaccine-related movement disorders was low based on available published cases.

Background: Due to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, non-emergency services like botulinum toxin A (BoNT) injections were temporarily discontinued. Objective: We aimed to create standard practices that optimize the management of patients needing BoNT injections while ensuring both patients' and healthcare professionals' safety. Methods: We evaluated published guidelines and best practices to determine their applicability for BoNT injection during this pandemic. We then devised a decision tree algorithm for use in our hospital. Results: A decision tree algorithm has been formulated based on patient evaluation and risk stratification, triaging, the urgency of the procedure, and proper precautions on personal protective wear as appropriate for the procedure’s risk stratification. Conclusion The algorithm is in place to ensure the safety of both the patient and healthcare professional. It can be adopted and revised by other centers to suit their clinic needs.
Movement Disorders ; COVID-19 ; Botulinum Toxins ; Therapeutics ; Pandemics

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, neurodegenerative condition resulting in various motor impairments, including speech disorders. However, at the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, a patient with PD could not access traditional in-person neurorehabilitation care. This case report highlights the feasibility of telerehabilitation to deliver speech therapy over a distance using available resources in a developing country. We describe a Filipino elderly woman, public speaker, and marriage counselor, seeking teleconsultation for her voice problems (slow and soft) attributed to PD. At that time, most center-based outpatient rehabilitation centers in Manila were closed due to the pandemic, and the patient preferred to stay at home for safety reasons. Hence, she was evaluated and managed remotely by an interdisciplinary team (neurologist, physiatrist, speech-language pathologist) through video calls. Since the ideal rehabilitation set up (in-person evaluation and therapy; use of Lee Silverman Voice Therapy) could not be done, the clinicians had to find practical alternatives, such as remotely administering subjective perceptual voice assessments, objective speech analysis using the Praat™ computer application, and speech teletherapy through synchronous (videocalls, phone calls) and asynchronous (e-mails, text messages, pre-recorded exercise videos) techniques. Notable speech improvements were observed by the clinicians, patient, and patient’s frequent communicative partners after at least four teletherapy sessions. However, the carry-over of the improvements was affected by the patient’s lack of compliance with the prescribed home exercise program. Telerehabilitation using synchronous and asynchronous techniques for speech disorders due to PD was found feasible, beneficial, safe, and practical amid social distancing and low resources in a developing country
Speech Therapy ; Telerehabilitation ; Parkinson Disease ; Voice Disorders ; COVID-19

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created a global health impact to millions of people. There have been studies of COVID-19 patients manifesting with neurologic symptoms. Although the number of adult COVID-19 infections diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is increasing, the occurrence of cases in pediatric population remains limited or perhaps underreported. We report a rare case of an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection manifesting as acute progressive ascending polyneuropathy and hyporeflexia in a 16-year-old teen. The diagnosis of COVID-19 infection was confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for SARS-CoV-2 of oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swab specimens. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine revealed abnormal enhancement of the cauda equina, including the dorsal and ventral roots. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies were compatible with an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy subtype of GBS. Although lumbar puncture was not done, the clinical findings and electrodiagnostic tests were both consistent with GBS. The patient had improvement of both motor and sensory functions after completing the treatment of intravenous immunoglobulins. Neurologic manifestations of systemic illness especially in children during this time of pandemic warrants scrutiny, as these may mask a potentially dangerous and infectious ongoing COVID infection.
COVID-19 ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Polyneuropathies ; Pediatrics ; SARS-CoV-2

X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP) is an adult-onset debilitating neurodegenerative disorder presenting with motor and nonmotor symptoms. The treatment options for XDP are limited. We described a patient with XDP who underwent a unilateral transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (tcMRgFUS) pallidothalamic tractotomy with a one-year follow-up. The patient reported an immediate improvement in his pain after the procedure. Compared to baseline, there was an improvement in his scores in the dystonia (31%), parkinsonism (35.1%), and activities of daily living (71%) subscales at 1-year follow up. The overall improvement at one year was 46%. There were no adverse events noted. Additional studies with larger sample size and follow-up would be needed to document its long-term safety and efficacy.
Dystonia 3, Torsion, X-Linked ; Dystonic Disorders ; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic presented an extraordinary challenge to the operations of private hospitals involved in neurological residency training. Numerous adaptations were made to restructure the hospital, including the special units and diagnostic centers. Teaching and training activities were swiftly transitioned to online platforms and research activities were streamlined. Manpower allocation into teams with active duties followed by mandatory quarantine periods became the norm.

Objective. To evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the neurology training program by comparing two periods: pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.

Methods. We reviewed the changes implemented by the hospital in response to the pandemic. We also looked into our residency training program pre-pandemic and the subsequent changes instituted to adapt to the pandemic.

Results. Due to the community quarantine imposed by the government, there was a drastic drop by as much as 70.5% in the out-patient census, 38.4% in the in-patient census, and 46.9% in neurodiagnostic (electroencephalography and electrodiagnostic medicine). The residents were reorganized into three teams of 4 residents, further divided into COVID and non-COVID rotations for 5 days straight duty. Consultants were also stratified into high-risk (on-call for emergency referrals in a work-from-home scheme) and non-high-risk (COVID patient rounds). Teleconsultation was likewise utilized. Academic activities were shifted to blended online learning.

Conclusion. There was a need to reorganize resident staffing brought about by the hospital changes as well, to ensure safety during the pandemic. The pandemic has forced us to shift to alternative methods of teaching and examination, such as teleneurology. Regular assessments and adjustments to the training program will need to be done to adapt to an evolving situation.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been used as an investigational drug for patients with moderate to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There have been concerns of potential harms from side effects of the drug. We present a case of a 38-year-old male who was started on HCQ for COVID-19 pneumonia. He was referred for evaluation of myoclonus of all extremities, which resolved after discontinuation of HCQ. The involuntary movements were first reported after the initiation of HCQ, persisted despite improvement in inflammatory and radiologic parameters and eventually resolved after HCQ discontinuation. This supports a possible causality related to adverse drug reactions from HCQ that have not been commonly reported.