COVID-19: Acute brain dysfunction in ICU patients Written by Jennifer Huizen on January 14, 2021 — Fact checked by Mary Cooke, Ph.D. New research shows that in COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), episodes of brain dysfunction are more common and prolonged than normally associated with severe respiratory failure. Justin Paget/Getty Images All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. for the most recent information on the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the study’s findings, critically ill COVID-19 patients experienced brain dysfunction for an average of 12 days.