World Federation of Neurology

Fostering quality neurology and brain health worldwide

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Covid 19 notice 3

WFN COVID-19 reference review committee

Journal of the Neurological Sciences Editor-in-Chief: John D. England
eNeurologicalSci (eNS) standing Editor-in-Chief: Walter Struhal
World Neurology Editor-in-Chief: Steven L. Lewis

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Our work with the WHO
Monthly Update on Covid by the Tropical and Geographical Neurology Specialty Group
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
eNeurologicalSci
Covid-19 Resources

Dear WFN Member Societies,

When this COVID-19 website page was started at the beginning of the crisis in 2020, we intended to provide peer-reviewed information about the neurological consequences of COVID-19 as they came to light.

The pace of publications for Acute, Long, and Post- COVID-19, as well as Post Vaccination COVID-19, is fast and subject to many reviews. At present, we are overwhelmed with the Omicron variant as we continue the process of discovering the neurological sequelae of COVID-19.

At present, despite any estimations or predictions, we continue to be unable to foresee the end of the pandemic and must remain vigilant in regards to COVID-19's effects on neurological services and patients. We also have to be attentive to collateral effects, as many patients with neurological diseases or symptoms have less access to neurological services. In addition, regulations and bureaucracy at times bar older patients from even attempting access.

Additionally, neurological facilities are used to treat covid patients in some countries, which is acceptable given the circumstances, but we must be aware that the neurological workforce is thereby reduced.

These issues and problems are similar in all countries but differ in detail. As neurologists, we would encourage you to add your experiences and observations in the available databases, as these will assist in looking at the effects systematically and result in suggestions and new knowledge.

Prof. Wolfgang Grisold
President, World Federation of Neurology

WFN's work with WHO on Neurology and COVID 19: A Global Forum

As of January 2022, over 315 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 5.5 million deaths had been reported to WHO https://covid19.who.int/.

Complications after acute viral illnesses are well described, and it has become clear that COVID-19 has several neurological manifestations. Epidemiological data also shows that people with pre-existing neurological conditions are more at risk of SARS COV 2 infection. In addition, interruptions to essential services, including access issues and supply chain interruptions for medications, are presenting further challenges for people with neurological conditions.

During the first wave of this pandemic, the WHO asked the WFN, as the organisation directly representing neurology and neurologists, to be represented on the WHO formed Neurology and COVID-19 Global Forum. The WFN continues to have involvement in this and also on its four working groups:

Follow-up and long-term impact
Essential Services
Acute clinical
Surveillance

Monthly Update on Covid by the Tropical and Geographical Neurology Specialty Group

COVID-19 October Update

Prof. Avindra Nath and Dr Bridgette Jeanne Billioux Tropical and Geographical Neurology Specialty Group

10 Oct 2022

For this update, we present some pertinent updates in the literature and news, including new insights into long-term COVID-19 neurologic outcomes and links between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s Disease.

This month, a study published in Nature Medicine looked at incident neurologic sequelae in COVID-19 survivors over a one-year period using US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care databases (Xu 2022). This is a well-designed study with appropriate controls, which shows an increase in neurological complications in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19 at 12 months after onset of infection. The long follow up, the large sample size and the syndromic approach as opposed to symptom-based characterization of patients makes this a unique study.

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