ASSESSMENT OF MEMORY LOSS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS THAT RECOVERED FROM COVID-19 IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY, KHARTOUM 2024

Abstract

Background: Memory is the process of acquiring, processing, storing, and recalling information. It consists of different types, including working memory, sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Short-term memory holds limited information for a short duration, while long-term memory stores significant experiences and knowledge. Factors like age, trauma, and lifestyle choices can affect memory. COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, emerged as a global pandemic. Post-COVID syndrome, known as "Long COVID," includes persistent symptoms, potentially including neurological aspects.

Objectives: To assess memory function in medical students that recovered from COVID-19 in UMST.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among undergraduate students at UMST, utilizing a self-administered questionnaire and a pilot study. The study included 151 participants, and data analysis was performed using SPSS 27. Associations were examined using the chi-square test, with a p-value threshold of 0.05 to determine statistical significance.

Results: Out of the 151 participants in the study, 65 tested positive for the coronavirus. Only a small proportion 6.8% reported hospitalization. The majority of respondents, 72.3%, experienced mild short-term memory impairment, while 61.5% exhibited mild long-term memory impairment. The correlation between the duration of symptoms and the severity of short-term or long-term memory impairment was found to be insignificant, with p-values of 0.608 and 0.121, respectively.

Conclusion: This study found that most participants experienced mild short-term and long-term memory impairment after COVID-19 infection. Surprisingly, there were no significant changes in memory over the years following the infection. The study did not establish a correlation between symptom duration and memory impairment severity. These findings suggest that COVID-19 may affect memory, but more research is required to understand the long-term effects and contributing factors.