Prognosis is similar to other types of hypoxic brain injury from neuro-psychiatric disorders to catastrophic brain injury. Damage to the basal ganglia from CO poisoning can result in movement disorders (Parkinsonism, chorea and myoclonus). Neurological sequelae can be delayed in their onset and often recovery is lengthy requiring neurorehabilitation.
Negative long-term effects are more likely to be seen within the cardiovascular or neurological system due to their high levels of metabolic activity and therefore increased cellular damage both directly and indirectly by CO.
