Evaluation of the Association between Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Laboratory Outcomes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

Aim:The severe acute respiratory syndrome novel corona virus-2 (SARS-nCoV-2) which is an enveloped RNA virus was defined as the cause of Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms can also be observed in COVID-19 patients. This study was performed to evaluate the association between GI symptoms and laboratory results.Methods:This retrospective study was carried out in the University of Health Sciences Turkey, Istanbul Haseki Health Training and Research Hospital between 11th March and 1st June 2020. This study consisted of a total of 159 patients with COVID-19. COVID-19 infection was defined via a positive nasal and pharyngeal swab test. All symptoms of patients were recorded. Study patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of GI symptoms or not.Results:There were 41 patients in the group with GI and 118 were in the group without GI symptoms. Nausea and/or vomiting were observed in 29, diarrhea in 20 and abdominal pain in 10 patients. Percentages of anosmia (loss of smell sense) and ageusia (loss of taste sense) increased in patients with GI symptoms than the other group (p=0.005 and <0.0001). The mean serum aspartate amino transferase (AST) level elevated in COVID-19 patients with GI symptoms (p=0.022).Conclusion:Anosmia and ageusia increased significantly in COVID-19 patients with GI. Serum C-reactive protein and AST levels statistically increased in COVID-19 patients with GI.

Keywords

• gastrointestinal symptoms
• sars-ncov-2
• coronavirus disease-2019
• laboratory