Frequency and correlation of gastrointestinal symptoms with outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the frequency and correlation of GI manifestations with outcomes in hospitalized patients suffering from COVID-19. Study Design: Retrospective Cohort study. Setting: Tertiary Care Hospital, Gujrat. Period April 1st, 2020 to March 31st, 2021. Material & Methods: Medical records were collected retrospectively from six hundred eighty eight COVID-19 patients having complete charts. Among them male were 364 (52.91%). Incomplete charts were excluded from the study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used after adjusting for co-morbidities and clinical demographics. Results: Most of the patients with COVID-19 presented with cough (38.44%), dyspnea (37.53%), and fever (34.34%), while GI symptoms were noted in 25.92% of patients. Among them diarrhea was in 12.83%, nausea and vomiting in 10.53%, diminished hunger 9.32%, and abdominal discomfort 3.83%. Mortality, admission to ICU and need for intubation was more common among patients with diarrhea. (p = 0.006). Conclusion: Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations are common in patients with COVID-19. Among them patients with diarrhea were more prone to admission to intensive care unit, intubation and death so patients with COVID-19 should be questioned for GI symptoms also. Medical professionals should know that diarrhea may be an indicator of severity of disease and its effect on prognosis of patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Professional Medical Journal is the property of Professional Medical Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)