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Gastrointestinal Symptoms Predict the Outcomes From COVID-19 Infection
Faraz Bishehsari1, Darbaz Adnan1, Ameya Deshmukh1
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine.
Insights
Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in COVID-19 patients are linked to worse outcomes. This study suggests that GI involvement may indicate a more severe form of the disease.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) primarily affects the respiratory system but can also impact the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
- Limited data exist on the clinical significance of GI symptoms during COVID-19 infection.
- Understanding GI involvement is crucial for assessing disease severity and patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and significance of initial gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19 patients.
- To determine if GI symptoms are associated with adverse outcomes in COVID-19 patients.
- To explore whether GI involvement defines a distinct, more severe phenotype of COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of electronic health records for 1003 consecutive patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Data collected between March 12 and April 3, 2020, in the largest US study of its kind.
- Statistical analysis to assess the association between initial GI symptoms and patient outcomes, adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, and other clinical symptoms.
Main Results:
- Initial gastrointestinal symptoms were reported in up to 22.4% of COVID-19 patients.
- The presence of GI symptoms was significantly associated with worse clinical outcomes.
- This association remained significant after adjusting for key confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms are a notable feature in a subset of COVID-19 patients.
- COVID-19 patients presenting with GI symptoms may represent a more severe disease phenotype.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms and implications of GI involvement in COVID-19.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has taken hundreds of thousands of lives globally. Besides the respiratory tract, the virus can affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Data regarding the significance of GI symptoms in the COVID-19 course are limited. In this largest US study to date, the authors reviewed electronic encounters of 1003 consecutive patients who were tested positive for the virus between March 12 and April 3, 2020. Initial GI symptoms were present in up to 22.4% of patients and were associated with worse outcomes after adjustment for demographics, comorbidities, and other clinical symptoms. COVID-19 with GI involvement may define a more severe phenotype.
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