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Gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19: results from a European centre.
- Source :
-
European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology [Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol] 2021 May 01; Vol. 33 (5), pp. 691-694. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Background: Infection due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is typically associated with a respiratory syndrome, but gastrointestinal symptoms have been described in early reports from China. However, data from European centres are scarce.<br />Objectives: We aimed to characterise the gastrointestinal manifestations of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their disease course.<br />Methods: Patients admitted at our centre between March and April 2020 with diagnosis of COVID-19 were included. Asymptomatic patients or those without symptom information were excluded. Clinical features, laboratory data and disease severity (mechanical ventilation, intensive care admission or death) were analysed.<br />Results: Two-hundred one patients were included (median age 71 years; 56.2% male). Digestive symptoms were reported by 60 (29.9%) patients during the disease course, being part of the disease presentation in 34 (16.9%). The most frequent were diarrhoea in 36 patients (17.9%). Patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were younger (P = 0.032), had higher haemoglobin levels (P = 0.002) and lower C-reactive protein (P = 0.045) and potassium levels (P = 0.004). Patients with digestive symptoms had less severe disease (28.3 vs. 44.0%; P = 0.038). Regarding liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was elevated in 65.2% of patients and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in 62.7%, but these patients did not present a more severe disease (elevated AST P = 0.062; elevated ALT P = 0.276).<br />Conclusion: A significant portion of COVID-19 patients have digestive symptoms, mostly at presentation. This should be taken into account in order to keep a high level of suspicion to reach an early diagnosis and setup infection control measures to control the transmission rate. This subgroup of patients appears to have a less severe disease course.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Abdominal Pain epidemiology
Abdominal Pain metabolism
Abdominal Pain physiopathology
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Ageusia epidemiology
Ageusia metabolism
Ageusia physiopathology
Alanine Transaminase metabolism
Aspartate Aminotransferases metabolism
C-Reactive Protein metabolism
COVID-19 metabolism
Diarrhea epidemiology
Diarrhea metabolism
Female
Hemoglobins metabolism
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nausea epidemiology
Nausea metabolism
Nausea physiopathology
Portugal epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
SARS-CoV-2
Severity of Illness Index
Vomiting epidemiology
Vomiting metabolism
Young Adult
COVID-19 physiopathology
Diarrhea physiopathology
Vomiting physiopathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1473-5687
- Volume :
- 33
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33787540
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1097/MEG.0000000000002152