Computerized Training of Attention and Working Memory in Post COVID-19 Patients With Cognitive Complaints (CO-TRAINER)

Effectiveness of Computerized Training of Attention and Working Memory in Post COVID-19 Patients With Cognitive Complaints

Many post COVID-19 patients suffer from cognitive deficits, even after 1 year after hospitalization. These complaints have a huge impact on psychological well-being and quality of life. In rehabilitation programs in the Netherlands, most interventions are based on physical therapy or learning how to cope with fatigue and low levels of energy. In former studies computerized training of cognition in other populations has been proven to be effective. Knowledge on the effect of computerized training on attention and working memory in patients suffering from COVID-19 is urgently needed, and may contribute to more evidence-based rehabilitation programs for these patients. Therefore the effectiveness of computerized training of attention and working memory in post COVID-19 patients with cognitive complaints will be studied in this study.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: COVID-19; Cognitive Impairment; Memory Disorders; Memory Impairment; Attention Impaired; Memory Loss; Cognition Disorder; Attention Deficit
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: RehaCom

Detailed Description

Since 2019, the world has been overwhelmed by COVID-19, a respiratory infectious disease. Current evidence suggests that approximately 10%-20% of people experience symptoms of post COVID-19 condition. Many post COVID-19 victims suffer from fatigue, cognitive deficits and / or subjective cognitive complaints, even after 1 year after hospitalization. Detailed research shows deficits in attention, both in sustained and executive components. Furthermore, less capacity of working memory, inhibition deficits and lower information processing speed is frequently reported. Fatigue and cognitive impairment have been consistently reported to be some of the most common and debilitating features of post COVID-19 condition. Like fatigue, cognitive complaints are associated with anxiety and depression and have an impact on every day functioning, return to work and account for diminished health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). There are no established and effective treatments yet for these patients. In former studies computerized training in other populations has been proven to be effective. Knowledge on the effect of computerized training on attention and working memory in patients suffering from COVID-19 is urgently needed, and may contribute to more evidence-based rehabilitation programs.

Objective: The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a computerized cognitive rehabilitation program (RehaCom) in post COVID-19 patients with cognitive complaints. The secondary aim is to evaluate the effect of this computerized cognitive rehabilitation program on subjective cognitive complaints, psychological outcome measures and HR-QoL and to assess the feasibility of the program.

Study design: Randomized wait-list controlled pilot trial.

Study population: Participants of the multicentre prospective cohort study CO-FLOW (NL74252.078.20) suffering from persistent cognitive complaints after 2 years after hospitalization as measured with the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ ) will be invited.

Intervention: Computerized cognitive training, 10 weeks, 3 times/week 15 - 30 minutes/session.

Main study parameters/endpoints: Cognitive functioning (attention and working memory) and psychological functioning (coping, anxiety, depression) and HR-QoL, using non-invasive neuropsychological tests and standardized online questionnaires. All outcomes will be assessed pre- and post-intervention and at 3 and 6 months follow-up.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: The intervention is an online cognitive rehabilitation program, 3 times a week 15 - 30 minutes per session during 10 weeks. Participants can choose what time of the day is most convenient for them to engage in the program in their home environment. They might improve their attention and working memory, and therefore may also improve quality of life.

Personal and disease characteristics are copied from patient records collected in the CO-FLOW study and additional measurements are non-invasive and minimally physically demanding.

Completion of online questionnaires, additional neuropsychological measurements and joining the intervention require a certain time investment from patients and might lead to temporary fatigue. By a maximum duration of 30 minutes per session for online questionnaires and neuropsychological tests we aim to minimize the burden for patients.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 50
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Zuid-Holland
    • Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands, 3015LJ
      • Rijndam Rehabilitation

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged 18 years and older;
• patient has sufficient knowledge of Dutch language;
• CFQ> 43 at 2 year follow-up of CO-FLOW, indicating persistent cognitive complaints;
• Computer and internet-access.

Exclusion Criteria:

• A potential participant who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

  • Incapacitated patients like patients diagnosed with dementia;
  • Patients should not be involved in concurrent rehabilitation program, cognitive behavioural therapy or psychotherapy targeting cognition, anxiety and/or depression.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Sequential Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Cognitive training 1; Randomized wait-list controlled pilot trial	Device: RehaCom; computerized cognitive training
Other: Cognitive training 2; Randomized wait-list controlled pilot trial	Device: RehaCom; computerized cognitive training

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
General cognition	The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) will be used for general cognitive screening for all patients at baseline measurement and after the intervention. The MoCA is designed as a rapid screening instrument for cognitive dysfunction. It assesses different cognitive domains: attention and concentration, executive functions, memory, language, visioconstructional skills, conceptual thinking, calculations, and orientation. The possible score is 30 points; a score of ≥ 26 is considered as normal, 18-25 indicates mild cognitive impairment, 10-17 moderate cognitive impairment and < 10 severe cognitive impairment.	3 months
Attention	Change in visual selective attention, processing speed and concentration is measured in all patients with the D2 test at baseline measurement, after the intervention and at 3 months follow-up. Change in visual attention, executive function (divided attention) and processing speed is measured with the Trail Making Test (TMT A & B) at baseline measurement, after the intervention and at 3 months follow up. The Stroop Test measures mental speed, executive attention and response inhibition in all participants of the study at baseline measurement, after the intervention and at 3 months follow-up.	6-9 months
Working memory	Working memory is measured in all patients at baseline measurement, after the intervention and at 3 months follow-up with the use of the Digit Span Forward (DSF) and Digit Span Backward (DSB) test (part of the Wechsler adult intelligence scale). It involves the oral presentation of spans of digits. The measure has both a 7-item digits forward task and a 7-item digits backward task, each one with its own individual score. Together with 'calculation' (also a part of the Wechsler adult intelligence scale), an index for working memory can be calculated.	6-9 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Subjective cognitive complaints	The Cognitive Failures Test (CFQ) is used for all participants at baseline measurement, after the intervention and at 3 months follow-up to assess the frequency with which people experience cognitive failures in everyday life, such as absent-mindedness, slips and errors of perception, memory, and motor functioning. The total score of the scale is the sum of the ratings of the 25 individual items, yielding a score from 0-100. The CFQ has 3 sub-scales: forgetfulness, distractibility, and false triggering.	6-9 months
Anxiety and depression	The Dutch Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is used for all participants at baseline measurement, after the intervention and at 3 months follow-up as a general measure of emotional distress and contains two sub-scales: anxiety and depression. Each sub-scale consists of 7 items, which are rated on a 0 to 3 point rating scale. Sub-scale scores ≥ 8 might indicate the presence of a depressive disorder or an anxiety disorder. Reliability and validity are adequate for several clinical populations, including multiple sclerosis and acquired brain injury.	6-9 months
Health-related quality of life (HR-QoL)	The EQ-5D-5L is used for all participants at baseline measurement, after the intervention and at 3 months follow-up as a measurement for HR-QoL. The EQ-5D-5L consists of the 5-item EQ-5D index (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression) and a visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). Psychometric properties of the Dutch version showed to be good. The five EQ-5D index items are summarized into one weighted overall score, which runs from 0 for the value of death to 1.00 for full health. The EQ VAS ranges from 0 to 100 (worst to best imaginable health state). For the general Dutch population average EQ-5D index = 0.843 and average EQ VAS = 81.36.	6-9 months
Fatigue	The Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) is used for all participants at baseline measurement, after the intervention and at 3 months follow-up as a measurement for fatigue. The FAS is a simple and short self-administered questionnaire to assess chronic fatigue. Patients' agreement with 10 statements is rated on a 5 points Likert-scale, ranging from 1 ("never") to 5 ("always"). Total scores can range from 10, indicating the lowest level of fatigue, to 50, denoting the highest.	6-9 months
Coping	The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS-Short Form) is used at baseline measurement to measure coping styles of all participants. The short version of the CISS is used as a measure of coping with stressful situations. It has 21 items which are rated on a 1 to 5 point rating scale. It contains 3 subscales: task-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented coping.	1 month
Personality traits neuroticism and extraversion	The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Brief Version (EPQ-BV) is used at baseline measurement to measure level of neuroticism and level of extraversion of all participants. The EPQ-BV is a revised version of the EPQ-S to measure individuals on two primary personality traits in Eysenck's personality theory (1990). It consists of two measures, one for extraversion (12 items) and one for neuroticism (12 items).	1 month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Erasmus Medical Center
• Investigators: Study Chair: Gerard Ribbers, Professor, Professor Rehabilitation Medicine and chair of the department

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 20, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 25, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): April 26, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 13, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 12, 2024
• Last Verified: March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: memory; COVID-19; cognitive training; attention; computerized training; cognitive failure
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Lung Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurocognitive Disorders; COVID-19; Cognition Disorders; Memory Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: NL84105.078.23

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No