Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
COVID-19 is a condition caused by the coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) that was first identified in late 2019. COVID-19 is a threat to global health and has been classified by the WHO as a pandemic. At the time of writing, June 2020, COVID-19 is spreading rapidly within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with almost 60,000 confirmed cases. COVID-19 targeted hospitals have been deployed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to deal with the pandemic.
Current understanding of COVID-19 infection is that the virus can infect the respiratory (breathing) system. Some people do not have symptoms but can carry the virus and pass it on to others. Other signs and symptoms caused by the virus are not yet well understood or known. A small number of patients may develop a severe case of the disease which requires intensive care unit admission. In these severe cases, patients can develop multi-system organ failure, acute respiratory failure, and altered level of consciousness. Although there is not yet much data on the impact of COVID-19 on the nervous system, there have been reported cases of various neurological (nervous system) outcomes, ranging from peripheral neuropathies (a type of nerve damage that can cause pain, numbness or weakness, typically in the hands and feet) to central nervous system involvement (i.e. stroke).
There is a lack of data on the possible neurological outcomes caused by COVID-19 and what the risk factors for those might be.
This study based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aims to explore the possible neurological outcomes of COVID-19 in adult patients. The study hopes to identify what the neurological outcomes of COVID-19 could be and how severe these outcomes are; to understand the processes of nervous system, and to explore what risk factors may make these outcomes more likely.
Who can participate?
Adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19
What does the study involve?
This is an observational study, there will be no additional changes for patients beyond standard care. In the event that a patient has neurological symptoms, these will be managed according to standard care and recorded for this study.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
This is an observational study, so participants will receive standard care according to local guidelines. There are no additional anticipated risks as a result of taking part in this study.
Where is the study run from?
King Saud Medical City, Critical Care Department and Neurocritical Care Unit (Saudi Arabia)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
From March 2020 to February 2021
Who is funding the study?
King Saud Medical City (Saudi Arabia)
Who is the main contact?
Prof Dimitrios Karakitsos
karakitsosdimitrios@gmail.com
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof Dimitrios Karakitsos
ORCID ID
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3370-7099
Contact details
King Saud Medical City
Riyadh
12714-3232
Saudi Arabia
+966509816296
karakitsosdimitrios@gmail.com
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
KSMC, IRB, H1RI-24-May20-01
Study information
Scientific title
Saudi Arabia study for the Neurological manifestations in COVID-19 (SANCO): a retrospective/prospective observational study into nervous system involvement after infection with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
Acronym
SANCO
Study hypothesis
We aim on investigating the spectrum, severity, and outcome of nervous system manifestations in COVID-19 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ethics approval
Approved 02/06/2020, King Saud Medical City Institutional Review Board (Riyadh 12714-3232 Saudia Arabia, +966 435-5555 Ext. 2345; irb@ksmc.med.sa), ref: H1RI-24-May20-01
Study design
Retrospective/prospective observational cohort study
Primary study design
Observational
Secondary study design
Cohort study
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Diagnostic
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details to requesrt a participant information sheet
Condition
Neurological manifestations in COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 infection) patients.
Intervention
This trial will integrate a mixture of retrospective and prospective data collection, with a follow-up period of 6 months. Patients admitted to the hospital from March 2020 until the start of prospective recruitment (24/05/2020) will be included retrospectively.
Neurologic manifestations will be reviewed and confirmed by two trained neuroscientists. Major disagreement between 2 reviewers will be resolved by consultation with a third one. Neurologic manifestations will be categorized into 3 categories: central nervous system (CNS) manifestations (dizziness, headache, impaired consciousness, acute cerebrovascular disease, ataxia, and seizure); peripheral nervous system (PNS) manifestations (taste impairment, smell impairment, vision impairment, and nerve pain); and skeletal muscular injury manifestations. Impaired consciousness includes the change of consciousness level (somnolence, stupor, and coma) and consciousness content (confusion and delirium).
In cases of suspected meningoencephalitis/encephalopathy lumbar puncture (LP) is usually integrated in the diagnostic work-up; hence, RT-PCR for COVID-19 will be also performed in the CNS accordingly. In KSA, no autopsies are currently performed according to legislation thus there will be no means to examine any possible brain specimens from deceased cases.
Acute cerebrovascular disease includes ischemic, thrombotic stroke and cerebral hemorrhage diagnosed by clinical symptoms and head CT. Seizure is based on the clinical symptoms at the time of presentation. Skeletal muscle injury was defined as when a patient had skeletal muscle pain and elevated serum creatine kinase level greater than 200U/L.
Comorbid disorders (i.e., diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, coagulopathies, autoimmune syndromes, hypercoagulable states, malignancies, previously known neurological disorder) which may influence the clinical picture will be registered and analyzed accordingly per individual case scenario.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. Incidence of neurological manifestations in COVID-19 hospitalized patients measured using neurological examination and other pertinent paraclinical examinations, tests, and questionnaires (i.e., total blood count, biochemistry, screening for systemic disorders and hypercoagulable states, imaging such as brain computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging studies, other tests such as cerebrospinal fluid analysis, electromyography, biopsies, etc.) collected from medical records at baseline, on hospital discharge, and 6 months follow-up
2. Range of symptoms of neurological manifestations in COVID-19 hospitalized patients measured using neurological examination and other pertinent paraclinical examinations, tests, and questionnaires collected from medical records at baseline, on hospital discharge, and 6 months follow-up
3. Severity of neurological manifestations in COVID-19 hospitalized patients neurological examination and other pertinent paraclinical studies such as imaging studies (CT, MRI, etc.) collected from medical records at baseline, on hospital discharge, and 6 months follow-up
Secondary outcome measures
1. Consciousness and neurological picture measured using the GlasgoW Coma Scale (GCS) and neurological examination at baseline, hospital discharge, and at 6 months follow-up
2. Organ function status measured using the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score at baseline and hospital discharge
3. Markers of cytokine release syndrome measured through changes in laboratory inflammation markers (lymphocyte count, serum levels of C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, interleukin-6, ferritin, and d-dimer in addition to other common laboratory markers total blood count, coagulation profile, and biochemistry panel) at baseline and hospital discharge
4. Extent of inflammation measured through changes in laboratory inflammation markers at baseline and hospital discharge
5. Evolution of neurological disorders measured through changes in imaging studies (brain MRI for stroke or encephalitis, and other pertinent tests such as electromyography to measure the evolution of peripheral nervous system disorders) at baseline and hospital discharge
6. ICU length of stay assessed from medical records collected at baseline and ICU discharge
7. Number of days on mechanical ventilation assessed from medical notes collected at 6 months
8. 28 days and 3 months mortality assessed from medical notes collected at 28 days and 3 months
9. Functional outcomes and degree of disability measured using the Glasgow Outcome Score Extended (GOSE) and the Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) at hospital discharge
Overall trial start date
01/03/2020
Overall trial end date
28/02/2021
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged > 18 years
2. Hospitalized with COVID-19 as per the World Health Organization and Saudi Ministry of Health case definition
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
1,000
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Terminally ill receiving palliative care
2. Test negative for COVID-19
Recruitment start date
24/05/2020
Recruitment end date
30/08/2020
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Saudi Arabia
Trial participating centre
King Saud Medical
King Saud Medical City
Riyadh
12714-3232
Saudi Arabia
Sponsor information
Organisation
King Saud Medical City
Sponsor details
Salmah Ibn Asim street
An Nasiriya
Riyadh
12714-3232
Saudi Arabia
+966509816296
karakitsosdimitrios@gmail.com
Sponsor type
Hospital/treatment centre
Website
Funders
Funder type
Hospital/treatment centre
Funder name
King Saud Medical City
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact factor peer-reviewed journal
IPD sharing statement:
The data will be available by the Primary Investigator, Dr. Abdulrahman Alharthy, email: a_almshal@hotmail.com, upon reasonable request, patient medical records, clinical and paraclinical data are stored in excell sheet in an anonymous manner, consent will be obtained, no other restrictions apply as this is an obervational study
Intention to publish date
30/01/2022
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list