Subjective and objective measures of cognitive function are correlated in persons with [LC]: a secondary analysis of [an RCT], 2024, Kwan+

Subjective and objective measures of cognitive function are correlated in persons with Post-COVID-19 Condition: a secondary analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Kwan, Angela T.H.; Lakhani, Moiz; Le, Gia Han; Singh, Gurkaran; Teopiz, Kayla M.; Ceban, Felicia; Nijjar, Charnjit S.; Meshkat, Shakila; Badulescu, Sebastian; Ho, Roger; Rhee, Taeho Greg; Di Vincenzo, Joshua D.; Gill, Hartej; McIntyre, Roger S.

BACKGROUND
It remains unclear whether subjective and objective measures of cognitive function in Post COVID-19 Condition (PCC) are correlated. The extent of correlation has mechanistic and clinical implications.

METHODS
This post-hoc analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial contains baseline data of subjective and objective measures of cognition in a rigorously characterized cohort living with PCC. Herein, we evaluated the association between subjective and objective condition function, as measured by the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire, 20-item (PDQ-20) and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and Trails Making Test (TMT)-A/B, respectively.

RESULTS
A total of 152 participants comprised the baseline sample. Due to missing data, our statistical analyses included 150 for self-reported PDQ-20, 147 individuals for combined DSST-measured cognitive function (composite z-score of the Pen/Paper plus Online CogState Version, NcombinedDSST), 71 for in-person DSST-measured cognitive function (Pen/Paper Version), 70 for TMT-A-measured cognitive function, and 70 for TMT-B-measured cognitive function. After adjusting for age, sex, and education, PDQ-20 was significantly correlated with pen-and-paper DSST (β = -0.003, p = 0.002) and TMT-B (β = 0.003, p = 0.008) scores, but not with TMT-A scores (β = -0.001, p = 0.751).

CONCLUSIONS
Overall, a statistically significant correlation was observed between subjective and objective cognitive functions. Clinicians providing care for individuals with PCC who have subjective cognitive function complaints may consider taking a measurement-based approach to cognition at the point of care that focuses exclusively on patient-reported measures.

Link | PDF (European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience)

 

Primary study was Vortioxetine for the treatment of post-COVID-19 condition: a randomized controlled trial (2024, Brain)

 

A Brief Review of Cognitive Assessment in Neurotoxicology, 2011, Han et al

Interesting that TMT-A is not correlated but TMT-B is.