Modifiable in‐hospital factors for 12‐month global cognition, post‐traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and depression symptoms in adults hospitalized with COVID‐19

BACKGROUND: We sought to identify potentially modifiable in‐hospital factors associated with global cognition, post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and depression symptoms at 12 months. METHODS: This was a multi‐center prospective cohort study in adult hospitalized patients with acute COVID‐19. The following in‐hospital factors were assessed: delirium; frequency of in‐person and virtual visits by friends and family; and hydroxychloroquine, corticosteroid, and remdesivir administration. Twelve‐month global cognition was characterized by the MOCA‐Blind. Twelve‐month PTSD and depression were characterized using the PTSD Checklist for the DSM‐V and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, respectively. FINDINGS: Two hundred three patients completed the 12‐month follow‐up assessments. Remdesivir use was associated with significantly higher cognition at 12 months based on the MOCA‐Blind (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.06, 3.70). Delirium was associated with worsening 12‐month PTSD (aOR = 3.44, 95% CI: 1.89, 6.28) and depression (aOR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.84) symptoms. Multiple virtual visits per day during hospitalization was associated with lower 12‐month depression symptoms compared to those with less than daily virtual visits (aOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.85). CONCLUSION: Potentially modifiable factors associated with better long‐term outcomes included remdesivir use (associated with better cognitive function), avoidance of delirium (associated with less PTSD and depression symptoms), and increased virtual interactions with friends and family (associated with less depression symptoms).