AUTHOR=Piano Carla , Di Stasio Enrico , Primiano Guido , Janiri Delfina , Luigetti Marco , Frisullo Giovanni , Vollono Catello , Lucchini Matteo , Brunetti Valerio , Monforte Mauro , Guglielmi Valeria , Della Marca Giacomo , Evoli Amelia , Marra Camillo , Mirabella Massimiliano , Quaranta Davide , Ricci Enzo , Servidei Serenella , Silvestri Gabriella , Bellavia Simone , Bortolani Sara , Bove Francesco , Di Iorio Riccardo , Di Paolantonio Andrea , Genovese Danilo , Ialongo Tamara , Lo Monaco Maria Rita , Marotta Jessica , Patanella Agata Katia , Perna Alessia , Petracca Martina , Presicce Giorgia , Riso Vittorio , Rollo Eleonora , Romano Angela , Romozzi Marina , Sancricca Cristina , Scala Irene , Spagni Gregorio , Solito Marcella , Tricoli Luca , Zinzi Paola , Calabresi Paolo , Bentivoglio Anna Rita 

TITLE=An Italian Neurology Outpatient Clinic Facing SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Data From 2,167 Patients

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2020.00564

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2020.00564

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> Neurological sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection have already been reported, but there is insufficient data about the impact of the pandemic on the management of the patients with chronic neurological diseases. We aim to analyze the effect of COVID-19 pandemic and social restriction rules on these fragile patients.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Patients with chronic neurologic diseases routinely followed at the outpatient clinic of Gemelli University Hospital, Rome, were assessed for symptoms suggestive of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pandemic period, consequences of social restrictions, and neurological disease features, concomitant medical conditions, current medical and disease-specific treatments. Data source: a dedicated telephone survey designed to encompass questions on COVID-19 symptoms and on pandemic effects in chronic neurologic conditions.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Overall, 2,167 individuals were analyzed: 63 patients reported contact with COVID-19 positive cases, 41 performed the swab, and 2 symptomatic patients tested positive for COVID-19 (0.09%). One hundred fifty-eight individuals (7%) needed urgent neurological care, deferred due to the pandemic; 641 patients (30%) suspended hospital treatments, physiotherapy or other support interventions; 405 individuals (19%) reported a subjective worsening of neurological symptoms.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> In our population, the presence of neurological chronic diseases did not increase the prevalence of COVID-19 infection. Nevertheless, the burden of neurological disorders has been worsened by the lockdown.</p>