Background and purpose Although COVID‐19 predominantly affects the respiratory system, recent studies have reported the occurrence of neurological disorders such as stroke in relation to COVID‐19 infection. Encephalitis is an inflammatory condition of the brain that has been described as a severe neurological complication of COVID‐19. Despite a growing number of reported cases, encephalitis related to COVID‐19 infection has not been adequately characterised. To address this gap, this systematic review and meta‐analysis aims to describe the incidence, clinical course, and outcomes of patients who suffer from encephalitis as a complication of COVID‐19. Methods All studies published between 1 November 2019 and 24 October 2020 that reported on patients who developed encephalitis as a complication of COVID‐19 were included. Only cases with radiological and/or biochemical evidence of encephalitis were included. Results In this study, 610 studies were screened and 23 studies reporting findings from 129,008 patients, including 138 with encephalitis, were included. The average time from diagnosis of COVID‐19 to onset of encephalitis was 14.5 days (range = 10.8–18.2 days). The average incidence of encephalitis as a complication of COVID‐19 was 0.215% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.056%–0.441%). The average mortality rate of encephalitis in COVID‐19 patients was 13.4% (95% CI = 3.8%–25.9%). These patients also had deranged clinical parameters, including raised serum inflammatory markers and cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Conclusions Although encephalitis is an uncommon complication of COVID‐19, when present, it results in significant morbidity and mortality. Severely ill COVID‐19 patients are at higher risk of suffering from encephalitis as a complication of the infection.

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This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Singapore. We used data from the Singapore Civil Defence Force to compare the incidence, characteristics and outcomes of all Emergency Medical Services (EMS)-attended adult OHCA during the pandemic (January–May 2020) and pre-pandemic (January–May 2018 and 2019) periods. Pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was the primary outcome. Binary logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for the characteristics of OHCA. Of the 3893 OHCA patients (median age 72 years, 63.7% males), 1400 occurred during the pandemic period and 2493 during the pre-pandemic period. Compared with the pre-pandemic period, OHCAs during the pandemic period more likely occurred at home (aOR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.24–1.75) and were witnessed (aOR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.49–1.97). They received less bystander CPR (aOR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.61–0.81) despite 65% of witnessed arrests by a family member, and waited longer for EMS (OR ≥ 10 min: 1.71, 95% CI 1.46–2.00). Pre-hospital ROSC was less likely during the pandemic period (aOR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.53–0.84). The pandemic saw increased OHCA incidence and worse outcomes in Singapore, likely indirect effects of COVID-19.

Subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) and affective symptoms are highly prevalent in Parkinson's Disease (PD). In early PD, SCC prevalence and its affective correlates, using recommended Movement Disorders Society (MDS) Level II Criteria to define the underlying cognitive impairment, has not been previously explored. Methods: We recruited 121 participants with early PD from two tertiary hospitals in Singapore. The presence of SCC was defined using a Non-Motor Symptoms Scale Domain-5 Score ≥1. Comprehensive neuropsychological testing was conducted with Mild Cognitive Impairment (PD-MCI) defined using recommended MDS Level II Criteria. Affective symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Apathy Scale (AS). Analysis using multivariable linear regression model was performed. Results: In our early PD cohort, SCC prevalence independent of underlying cognitive status was 38.8%. Prevalence of SCC in cognitively impaired and cognitively normal participants was 10.7% and 28.1% respectively (р = 0.241). In cognitively normal PD participants, multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that SCC was significantly associated with anxiety (β = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.09-0.79, p = 0.014), depression (β = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.10-0.59, p = 0.006) and apathy (β = 0.32, 95% CI = 1.15-5.98, p = 0.004). Such an association was not found in cognitively impaired PD participants. Conclusion: SCC is highly prevalent even in early PD. Its implications in early PD differ depending on underlying cognitive status. SCC in cognitively impaired participants underestimates the true prevalence of PD-MCI. In contrast, SCC in cognitively normal participants is suggestive of an underlying affective disorder.