GI Symptoms More Prevalent Among Hospitalized COVID+ Patients

Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 had a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms than has been recognized in previous reviews, a new study indicates.

In this prospective, multicenter study, researchers recruited 2036 patients at hospital admission and asked about GI symptoms at admission and after 1 month, using the validated Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale.

A total of 871 patients were included for primary analysis—575 in the COVID positive (COVID+) cohort, and 296 COVID negative. In the COVID+ cohort, 343 patients (59.7%) reported GI symptoms, compared to 128 patients (43.2%) of the control group. (P < 0.001)

Patients in the COVID+ cohort reported GI symptoms with higher presence or intensity, including nausea, diarrhea, loose stools, and urgency. At the 1-month follow-up for these patients, the presence or intensity of these symptoms had lessened.

“Nausea remained increased over controls,” the authors wrote. “Factors significantly associated with nausea persistence in COVID-19 were female sex, high body mass index, the presence of dyspnea, and increased C-reactive protein levels.”

For hospitalized patients with COVID-19, GI symptoms are more prevalent than previously reported, with systemic and respiratory symptoms often associated with the GI complaints.

—Allison Casey

Reference:
Marasco G, Cremon C, Barbaro MR, et al. Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection: Results of the prospective controlled multinational GI-COVID-19 study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022;117(1): 147-157. DOI:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001541