Persisting gastrointestinal symptoms and post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome following SARS-CoV-2 infection: results from the Arizona CoVHORT. (8th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Austhof, Erika; Bell, Melanie L.; Riddle, Mark S.; Catalfamo, Collin; McFadden, Caitlyn; Cooper, Kerry; Scallan Walter, Elaine; Jacobs, Elizabeth; Pogreba-Brown, Kristen
• Is Part Of: Epidemiology and infection. Volume 150(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07-08
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome -- gastrointestinal -- post-acute sequelae of COVID-19; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268822001200
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-2688

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, we aimed to examine the association between gastrointestinal (GI) symptom presence during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the prevalence of GI symptoms and the development of post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS). We used data from a prospective cohort and logistic regression to examine the association between GI symptom status during confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and prevalence of persistent GI symptoms at ≥45 days. We also report the incidence of PI-IBS following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of the 1475 participants in this study, 33.8% ( n = 499) had GI symptoms during acute infection. Cases with acute GI symptoms had an odds of persisting GI symptoms 4 times higher than cases without acute GI symptoms (odds ratio (OR) 4.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.45–7.53); symptoms lasted on average 8 months following infection. Of those with persisting GI symptoms, 67% sought care for their symptoms and incident PI-IBS occurred in 3.0% ( n = 15) of participants. Those with acute GI symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection are likely to have similar persistent symptoms 45 days and greater. These data indicate that attention to a potential increase in related healthcare needs is warranted.