A utilização do eletroencefalograma como biomarcador de classificação na Covid longa

Abstract

The overall aim of this study was to characterize the pattern of cortical activity, through resting EEG, in patients with this clinical condition and to compare electroencephalographical activity to clinical correlates. An observational study was conducted with a group of 15 individuals with Long Covid and a control group of 15 healthy individuals matched by age and sex. Patients with Long Covid were characterized by increased temporal theta spectral power (0.60 μV2 [±0.17] vs. 0.43 μV2 [±0.14]; ES=1.1), frontal beta (0.73 μV2 [±0.16] vs. 0.47 μV2 [±0.18]; ES=1.5), central alfa (0.74 μV2 [±0.64] vs. 0.53 μV2 [±0.24]; ES=0.4) e temporoparietal beta (0.86 μV2 [±0.13] vs. 0.55 μV2 [±0.18]; ES=2.0) power in the eyes-open condition when compared to healthy individuals matched by sex and age. Additionally, alpha frequency band in frontal and central regions correlated with the outcome of fatigue. The eyes-closed condition, on the contrary, was marked by reduced cortical activity evidenced by significantly lower frontal alpha (0.22 μV2 [±0.16] vs. 0.64 μV2 [±0.23]; ES=2.1), frontal beta (0.32 μV2 [0.19 – 0.45] vs. 0.48 μV2 [0.36 – 0.64]; ES=0.7), central alfa (0.19 μV2 [±0.14] vs. 0.69 μV2 [±0.23]; ES=2.6). temporoparietal beta (0.31 μV2 [0.16 – 0.38] vs. 0.49 μV2 [0.41 – 0.69]; ES=0.8)..Significant alterations were observed in the temporal dynamics of EEG microstate with reduction in duration, occurrence, and coverage of microstates C and D. Therefore, the results of this dissertation suggest the potential use of EEG as a biomarker for classification and monitoring of Long Covid.