Digestive Manifestations in Patients Hospitalized With Coronavirus Disease 2019
B Joseph Elmunzer1, Rebecca L Spitzer1, Lydia D Foster2
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Charleston, South Carolina.
Summary
Digestive symptoms like diarrhea and nausea were common in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. However, these gastrointestinal issues were usually mild and did not predict a worse clinical outcome.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Digestive manifestations in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are not well understood.
- Assessing the prevalence and clinical significance of gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19 patients is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence, spectrum, severity, and significance of digestive manifestations in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
- To evaluate the association between digestive symptoms and severe COVID-19 outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 1992 hospitalized COVID-19 patients across 36 North American centers.
- Data on symptoms, laboratory tests, and clinical outcomes were extracted from electronic health records.
- Regression analyses were used to assess the link between digestive issues and severe outcomes like mechanical ventilation or death.
Main Results:
- Over half of patients (53%) reported gastrointestinal symptoms, most commonly diarrhea (34%), nausea (27%), and vomiting (16%).
- The majority of these symptoms (74%) were mild.
- Liver function test abnormalities were observed in 35% of patients, typically mild.
- Neither gastrointestinal symptoms nor liver test abnormalities were independently associated with mechanical ventilation or death.
Conclusions:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms and liver test abnormalities are frequent in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
- These manifestations are generally mild and do not appear to be linked to a more severe disease course.
- The study clarifies the impact of digestive issues on COVID-19 severity.
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