Post COVID-19 irritable bowel syndrome

Marasco, G.; Cremon, C.; Barbaro, M. R.; Cacciari, G.; Falangone, F.; Kagramanova, A.; Bordin, D.; Drug, V.; Miftode, E.; Fusaroli, P.; Mohamed, S. Y.; Ricci, C.; Bellini, M.; Rahman, M. M.; Melcarne, L.; Santos, J.; Lobo, B.; Bor, S.; Yapali, S.; Akyol, D.; Sapmaz, F. P.; Urun, Y. Y.; Eskazan, T.; Celebi, A.; Kacmaz, H.; Ebik, B.; Binicier, H. C.; Bugdayci, M. S.; Yagcl, M. B.; Pullukcu, H.; Kaya, B. Y.; Tureyen, A.; Hatemi, I.; Koc, E. S.; Sirin, G.; Callskan, A. R.; Bengi, G.; Alls, E. E.; Lukic, S.; Trajkovska, M.; Hod, K.; Dumitrascu, D.; Pietrangelo, A.; Corradini, E.; Simren, M.; Sjolund, J.; Tornkvist, N.; Ghoshal, U. C.; Kolokolnikova, O.; Colecchia, A.; Serra, J.; Maconi, G.; De Giorgio, R.; Danese, S.; Portincasa, P.; Di Sabatino, A.; Maggio, M.; Philippou, E.; Lee, Y. Y.; Salvi, D.; Venturi, A.; Borghi, C.; Zoli, M.; Gionchetti, P.; Viale, P.; Stanghellini, V.; Barbara, G.

doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2022-328483

Objectives The long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection on the gastrointestinal tract remain unclear. Here, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and post-COVID-19 disorders of gut-brain interaction after hospitalisation for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Design GI-COVID-19 is a prospective, multicentre, controlled study. Patients with and without COVID-19 diagnosis were evaluated on hospital admission and after 1, 6 and 12 months post hospitalisation. Gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety and depression were assessed using validated questionnaires. Results The study included 2183 hospitalised patients. The primary analysis included a total of 883 patients (614 patients with COVID-19 and 269 controls) due to the exclusion of patients with pre-existing gastrointestinal symptoms and/or surgery. At enrolment, gastrointestinal symptoms were more frequent among patients with COVID-19 than in the control group (59.3% vs 39.7%, p<0.001). At the 12-month follow-up, constipation and hard stools were significantly more prevalent in controls than in patients with COVID-19 (16% vs 9.6%, p=0.019 and 17.7% vs 10.9%, p=0.011, respectively). Compared with controls, patients with COVID-19 reported higher rates of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) according to Rome IV criteria: 0.5% versus 3.2%, p=0.045. Factors significantly associated with IBS diagnosis included history of allergies, chronic intake of proton pump inhibitors and presence of dyspnoea. At the 6-month follow-up, the rate of patients with COVID-19 fulfilling the criteria for depression was higher than among controls. Conclusion Compared with controls, hospitalised patients with COVID-19 had fewer problems of constipation and hard stools at 12 months after acute infection. Patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher rates of IBS than controls. Trial registration number NCT04691895.

Post COVID-19 irritable bowel syndrome / Marasco, G.; Cremon, C.; Barbaro, M. R.; Cacciari, G.; Falangone, F.; Kagramanova, A.; Bordin, D.; Drug, V.; Miftode, E.; Fusaroli, P.; Mohamed, S. Y.; Ricci, C.; Bellini, M.; Rahman, M. M.; Melcarne, L.; Santos, J.; Lobo, B.; Bor, S.; Yapali, S.; Akyol, D.; Sapmaz, F. P.; Urun, Y. Y.; Eskazan, T.; Celebi, A.; Kacmaz, H.; Ebik, B.; Binicier, H. C.; Bugdayci, M. S.; Yagcl, M. B.; Pullukcu, H.; Kaya, B. Y.; Tureyen, A.; Hatemi, I.; Koc, E. S.; Sirin, G.; Callskan, A. R.; Bengi, G.; Alls, E. E.; Lukic, S.; Trajkovska, M.; Hod, K.; Dumitrascu, D.; Pietrangelo, A.; Corradini, E.; Simren, M.; Sjolund, J.; Tornkvist, N.; Ghoshal, U. C.; Kolokolnikova, O.; Colecchia, A.; Serra, J.; Maconi, G.; De Giorgio, R.; Danese, S.; Portincasa, P.; Di Sabatino, A.; Maggio, M.; Philippou, E.; Lee, Y. Y.; Salvi, D.; Venturi, A.; Borghi, C.; Zoli, M.; Gionchetti, P.; Viale, P.; Stanghellini, V.; Barbara, G.. - In: GUT. - ISSN 0017-5749. - 72:3(2023), pp. 484-492. [10.1136/gutjnl-2022-328483]