Clinical Significance of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Hospitalized Patients With Covid-19 Infection

Abstract

Objective: To determine the clinical significance of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in mild hospitalized patients with Covid-19 infection. Material and Methods: This study included adult patients who were hospitalized with a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 infection. The demographical features, symptoms, clinical presentations, medical history, medications and clinical progress and outcomes were noted using data collection form by the clinicians. The effect of GI symptoms on clinical outcomes in patients with mild Covid-19 infection was statistically evaluated. Results: 307 patients were included to the study. 159 of patients (51.7%) had an at least one GI symptoms, 18.2% of those presented only GI symptoms while 21.2% only non-GI symptoms. 27% were asymptomatic at admission. The most common GI symptom was loss of appetite that presenting 16.9% patients. The second and third most common GI symptoms were diarrhea in 15% patients, nausea and loss of taste in 14% patients, respectively. There was no significant difference in laboratory parameters between GI and non-GI symptoms groups. When age, gender, smoking status, and comorbidities of patients with GI and non-GI symptoms groups were compared, there was no difference in mean age, gender, smokers, and comorbidities. In addition, the length of hospital stay (p=0.377), complete healing (p=0.372) and mortality (p=0.351) was similar in patients with GI and non-GI symptoms groups respectively. Conclusion: Early diagnosis of Covid-19 infection presenting with GI symptoms can help prevent infection spread. The majority of these symptoms were mild, and their presence was not associated with worse clinical outcomes.

Keywords

• Covid-19
• gastrointestinal symptoms
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• diarrhea

Hastanede Yatan Covid-19 Enfeksiyonlu Hastalarda Gastrointestinal Semptomların Klinik Önemi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmamızda hastanede yatan hafif Covid-19 enfeksiyonu olan hastalarda gastrointestinal (GI) semptomların klinik önemini belirlemeyi amaçladık. Materyal ve Metod: Bu çalışma, doğrulanmış bir Covid-19 enfeksiyonu teşhisi ile hastaneye yatırılan yetişkin hastaları içermektedir. Demografik özellikler, semptomlar, klinik tablolar, tıbbi öykü, ilaçlar ve klinik ilerleme ve sonuçlar klinisyenler tarafından veri toplama formu kullanılarak not edildi. Hafif Covid-19 enfeksiyonu olan hastalarda GI semptomlarının klinik sonuçlara etkisi istatistiksel olarak değerlendirildi. Bulgular: 307 hasta çalışmaya dahil edildi. Hastaların 159'unda (%51,7) en az bir GI semptomu vardı. Hastaların %18.2'si sadece GI semptomları, %21,2'si ise sadece GI dışı semptomlar gösterdi. Hastaların %27'si başvuru sırasında asemptomatikti. En sık görülen GI semptom hastaların %16.9'unda görülen iştahsızlıktı. En sık görülen ikinci ve üçüncü GI semptomları sırasıyla %15 hastada ishal, %14 hastada bulantı ve tat kaybıydı. GI ve GI olmayan semptom grupları arasında laboratuvar parametrelerinde anlamlı bir fark yoktu. GI ve GI olmayan semptom grupları olan hastaların yaş, cinsiyet, sigara içme durumu ve komorbiditeleri karşılaştırıldığında, ortalama yaş, cinsiyet, sigara içenler ve komorbiditeler açısından fark yoktu. Ayrıca hastanede kalış süresi (p=0,377), tam iyileşme (p=0,372) ve mortalite (p=0,351) GI ve GI olmayan semptom gruplarında sırasıyla benzerdi. Sonuç: GI semptomlarıyla kendini gösteren Covid-19 enfeksiyonunun erken teşhisi, enfeksiyonun yayılmasını önlemeye yardımcı olabilir. Hastalarda saptanan GI semptomların çoğu hafif olup bunların varlığı daha kötü klinik sonuçlarla ilişkili saptanmamıştır.

Keywords

• covid
• gastrointestinal semptom
• iştahsızlık
• bulantı
• diyare

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