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D. A. Bazyka, K. V. Kuts, I. V. Perchuk, G. Y. Kreinis, K. Y. Antipchuk, Z. L. Vasylenko,
M. S. Hryhorenko
State Institution «National Research Center of Radiation Medicine, Hematology and Oncology of the
National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine», 53 Yuriia Illienka Str., Kyiv, 04050, Ukraine
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE LIQUIDATION OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT AND THE MILITARY PERSONNEL OF THE UKRAINIAN DEFENSE FORCES RECOVERING FROM CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19)
Objective: to conduct a clinical and neurophysiological study of Chornobyl clean-up workers and military personnel
of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) with previous coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and individuals of the comparison groups to study the impact of long-term effects of ionizing radiation, psychoemotional stress and previous
coronavirus infection on cerebral functioning.
Materials and methods. A prospective clinical study of Chornobyl clean-up workers and servicemen of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine (AFU) who had coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and individuals of the comparison groups. The
main group – 30 males participated in liquidating the consequences of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP)
accident with previously verified COVID-19 (Chornobyl clean-up workers). As a nosological control group (NCG), 24
men with verified chronic cerebrovascular disorder (CVD) not exposed to radiation sources, war-associated psychoemotional stress, and COVID-19 were examined in 2020–2022. Depending on the history of COVID-19, the AFU servicemen were divided into 2 subgroups: «COVID+» and «COVID-». The diagnosis of neuropsychiatric disorders was
established according to ICD-10. Visual and spectral EEG analyses assessed cerebral functions in passive wakefulness (rsEEG).
Results. Chornobyl clean-up workers «COVID+» and NCG groups did not differ significantly in clinical neuropsychiatric features, except for a higher frequency of organic personality disorder (F07) in the group of the Chornobyl clean
workers «COVID+» (p < 0.001). In the group of the Chornobyl clean workers «COVID+» relative ( %) spectral deltapower of EEG was significantly diffusely increased as well as absolute spectral delta-power in the left posterior-temporal area compared to NCG (p < 0.05). A significant diffuse increase in relative spectral theta-power with a bilateral excess in parietal areas (p < 0.05 – 0.01), as well as a significant increase in absolute spectral theta-power bilaterally in frontal areas (p < 0.05) was found in the group AFU «COVID+», compared to the group AFU «COVID-».
Conclusions. For the first time, a pronounced diffuse slowing of cerebral bioelectrical activity to delta-frequencies
was detected in the Chornobyl clean-up workers being COVID-19 recuperates compared to the comparison group
with chronic CVD. The AFU servicemen with previous COVID-19 have moderate persistent cerebral dysfunction. These
changes require further observation and study.
Key words: Chornobyl disaster; Chornobyl clean-up workers; post-traumatic stress disorder; Armed Forces of
Ukraine; quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG); COVID-19.
Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology.
2024;29:271-294. doi: 10.33145/2304-8336-2024-29-271-294
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