Our study aimed to determine the effects of new-onset neurological symptoms (NNS) on clinically relevant outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection. We conducted a nationwide, comparative, retrospective, cohort study among adult, hospitalized COVID-19 patients involving 37 hospital sites from various regions in the Philippines. We included a total of 10,881 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection (2008 had NNS while 8873 did not have NNS). The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for mortality among the mild and severe cases were significantly higher by 1.660 (95% CI 1.132–2.435) and by 1.352 (95% CI 1.042–1.752), respectively, in the NNS group compared to those in the non-NNS group. The aHRs for respiratory failure in the NNS group were significantly increased by 1.914 (95% CI 1.346–2.722), by 1.614 (95% CI 1.260–2.068), and by 1.234 (95% CI 1.089–1.398) among the mild, severe, and critical cases, respectively. The aHRs for ICU admission in the NNS group were still significantly higher by 1.973 (95% CI 1.457–2.673) and by 1.831 (95% CI 1.506–2.226) among the mild and severe cases, respectively. Patients who had NNS were not significantly associated with a longer duration of ventilator dependence (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.954, 95% CI 0.772–1.179), longer ICU stay (aOR 0.983, 95% CI 0.772–1.252) and longer hospital admission (aOR 1.045, 95% CI 0.947–1.153). The presence of NNS significantly increases the risk of mortality, respiratory failure and ICU admission among COVID-19 patients. Registration and associated protocol publication: ClinicalTrials.gov website (NCT04386083); Espiritu AI, Sy MCC, Anlacan VMM, Jamora RDG. The Philippine COVID-19 Outcomes: a Retrospective study Of Neurological manifestations and Associated symptoms (The Philippine CORONA study): a protocol study. BMJ Open. 2020;10:e040944.

Background: Stroke is the second leading cause of death in the Philippines. There is no Filipino data on stroke recurrence rates. Aim: The present study aimed to determine the risk of recurrence for stroke, myocardial infarction and death among Filipino patients taking varying doses of aspirin with first-ever non-cardioembolic strokes, and identify factors associated with stroke recurrence. Methods: Patients aged 40-79 years with non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke within 30 days from symptom onset who were taking varying doses of aspirin were included, and followed up monthly for the occurrence of recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction and/or death. Demographic and clinical data were collected at baseline and during each follow-up assessment. Results: A total of 262 patients with first-ever, non-cardioembolic stroke were included. The mean age was 56 AE 9 years. The mean follow-up was 263.4 days. The cumulative survival rate for recurrent stroke was 92.1% at 1 year and 87.6% at 2 years. The cumulative survival rate for combined outcome of recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction, and/ or death was 91.1% at 1 year and 82.1% at 2 years. Stroke recurrence was associated with the lack of effort to modify diet. Conclusions: Among Filipino patients taking aspirin for first-ever, non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke, the risk for stroke recurrence was 7.9% in the first year and 12.4% in the second year. The risk for combined stroke, myocardial infarction, and death was 8.9% in the first year and 17.9% in the second year. The lack of effort to modify diet was associated with stroke recurrence.

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