*EMBARGOED All research presented at the 2020 ACG Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course is strictly embargoed until Monday, October 26, 2020, at 8:00 am EDT.
P2825 Gastrointestinal Symptoms Predict the Outcomes of COVID-19 Infection
Author Insight from Darbaz Adnan, MBChB, Rush University Medical Center
What’s new here and important for clinicians?
We have conducted a large study of over 1000 patients at a major COVID-19 response center in Chicago at Rush University Medical Center, to assess for the frequency of initial GI symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain) and evaluate whether these symptoms in adult COVID-19 positive could predict the disease course. To our knowledge, this study is the first of its type and the largest US study to date to investigate the predictive value of GI symptoms. Our analysis suggests that presenting with GI symptoms were not only associated with an overall poorer COVID-19 course but were predictive of worse outcomes of higher admission rates to the hospital, ICU, and higher intubation rates after adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and all other clinical symptoms. Translation of these results to clinical practice may involve additional focus on screening for GI symptoms to help better risk stratify COVID-19 positive patients.
What do patients need to know?
GI symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain) are common presenting symptoms of COVID-19. Overall, 22.4% of our patients reported at least one GI symptom at the onset of their infection, with nausea/vomiting being the most common complaint. GI symptoms in COVID-19 patients were associated with worse outcomes. These results indicate that presenting with GI symptoms may place COVID-19 patients at a markedly higher risk of a worsened disease course from COVID-19 and need to be considered at the time of triage.
Author Contact
Darbaz Adnan, MBChB, Rush University Medical Center
darbaz_adnan [at] rush [dot] edu
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