Notes
COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease-19) may present with neurological signs, but whether people already affected by neurological conditions are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 is still not known. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the association of previously diagnosed neurological conditions with COVID-19. 502,536 community-dwelling UK Biobank participants (54.4% male, mean age 56.6 ± 10.3 years) were included. Among these, 57,463 participants had a diagnosis of neurological conditions (11.43%) and a total of 1326 COVID-19-positive cases were identified (0.26%). Neurological conditions were identified through medical history and linkage to data on hospital admissions (ICD-10 code G00-G99). COVID-19 presence was diagnosed using the data provided by Public Health England. The association of previous diagnosis of neurological conditions with COVID-19 was evaluated through logistic regressions, adjusted for potential confounders, reported as odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Nerve, nerve root and plexus disorders (G50-G59) were the most common conditions identified. The presence of COVID-19 was almost doubled in neurological conditions compared to the general population (0.45 vs. 0.24%, p < 0.0001). Previously diagnosed neurological conditions were associated with 60% higher odds of COVID-19 positive in the multivariable-adjusted model (OR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.4-1.8). Other degenerative diseases of the nervous system, extrapyramidal and movement disorders, polyneuropathies and other disorders of the peripheral nervous system, cerebral palsy and other paralytic syndromes were significantly associated with a higher odds of COVID-19. The presence of neurological conditions was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of COVID-19 compared to the general population.
Application 41245
Importance of healthy lifestyle on chronic neurological conditions
The aim of this project is to investigate how lifestyle (in particular diet and physical activity) is associated with the most common neurological diseases. In addition, we will explore how these lifestyle behaviors are associated with outcomes such as cognitive function (e.g. memory, attention) and brain structures, in a range of neurological diseases.
We plan on undertaking this research to understand if healthy lifestyle (dietary patterns and physical activity) may be related to the prevention of neurological and management of diseases. As for dietary patterns, we will consider some patterns traditionally associated with lower (e.g. Mediterranean diet) or higher (e.g. dietary inflammatory index) risk of common diseases and unwanted outcomes. We will do the same for physical activity level (assessed through self-reported and devices which measure this objectively ) in order to see if higher physical activity level is associated with a lower risk of neurological conditions. Finally, we will explore the association between diet and physical activity with cognition, since dementia and cognitive issues are unfortunately common in people having all kinds of neurological conditions. In this regard, we will explore the factors that can explain any relationships that we observe.
We will undertake this research using anonymous data. The project will last 36 months and we will publish several papers regarding, present our findings at conferences and provide lay summaries for patients.
We believe that our data can be of high public health importance, since neurological diseases are very common and usually associated with a high rate of disability and low quality of life. To understand if diet and physical activity are associated with a lower risk of these conditions and to a better cognitive status is very important, in order to suggest these interventions as prevention for neurological conditions.
Lead investigator: | Dr Nicola Veronese |
Lead institution: | IRCCS De Bellis |
1 related Return
Return ID | App ID | Description | Archive Date |
3822 | 41245 | Adherence to a healthy lifestyle and multiple sclerosis: a case-control study from the UK Biobank | 15 Sep 2021 |