ABSTRACT
Aim: to determine the frequency of erosive and ulcerative defects and ulcerative bleeding of the gastroduodenal zone in patients with COVID-19 infection. Materials and methods. Fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed in patients in the hospital for the COVID-19 infection treatment when they had heartburn, dyspepsia, or signs of gastrointestinal bleeding among patients. In total, endoscopy was performed in 387 patients (116 men and 271 women, mean age 65.4 years). Erosive esophagitis was assessed according to the Los Angeles classification (1994), candidiasis esophagitis according to the Kodsi classification (1976), esophageal varices according to K. J. Paquet (1983), classification of ulcerative bleeding according to J. A. Forrest (1974). Results. Erosions in the esophagus was found in 25.3% of the examined patients, gastric and duodenal erosions - in 44.4% of persons, gastric and duodenal ulcers - in 10.1% of patients. Gastroduodenal bleeding was determined in 5.7% of the examined patients and was associated with ulcerative defects in 81.8% of cases. Male gender was a strong risk factor for erosions, ulcers, and bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract. Conclusion. In patients with COVID-19, complications from the gastrointestinal tract, manifested by ulcerative defects and bleeding from the gastroduodenal zone, are a significant problem. It seems rational to propose to treat patients with COVID-19 infection receiving massive anti-inflammatory, anthrombocytic, anticoagulant therapy in the same way as is customary in the management of cardiological and rheumatological patients for the prevention of NSAID-gastropathy. © 2022 Global Media Technologies. All rights reserved.