Ocorrência de sequelas cognitivas e os impactos na aprendizagem de estudantes universitários da área da saúde acometidos pela COVID-19: um estudo transversal

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory syndrome, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the perception of self-deterioration of cognitive performance is frequent in its post-infectious period. 1 The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of cognitive sequelae in university students in the health area with a report of COVID-19 involvement. Method: This is a cross-sectional observational study. Forty-four participants were evaluated through the application of online questionnaires that gathered sociodemographic information, reports of previous COVID-19 involvement, lifestyle habits, and changes in academic performance, in addition to the cognitive failure questionnaire (CFQ). Result and discussion: The occurrence of greater cognitive complaints was observed in 83.3% of the students who faced COVID-19. The report a reduction in academic performance was higher among those affected, with learning, followed by short-term knowledge retention, being the most affected domains. Conclusion: These results provide evidence of the positive correlation between the report of previous involvement by COVID-19 and the higher occurrence of cognitive sequelae, as well as the influence of COVID-19 on the drop in academic performance with a decline in domains crucial to university performance. Such associations demonstrate the need for longitudinal follow-up to establish the permanence of complaints, as well as the development of strategies that help in the regression of the perception of cognitive dysfunction.