Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Patients with COVID-19 in Jahrom County, Fras Province, Southwest of Iran

While classic symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are well known, monitoring symptoms with less frequency is critical for controlling COVID-19 transmission.

This study aimed to evaluate the association of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms with nasal swab Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test positivity and high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings in favor of COVID-19 in patients suspected of COVID-19 in Jahrom city.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 2519 COVID-19 suspected patients in Peymaniyeh Hospital, Jahrom city, from January 2020 to July 2020. In addition to nasal swab PCR test, diagnostic data, various clinical symptoms, and demographic data were gathered. Patients were categorized as having GI symptoms alone or with other COVID-19 symptoms or not having GI symptoms. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and Mantel-Cox log-rank analysis.

There were 59 patients with isolated GI ‎symptoms‎, 1694 without any GI ‎symptoms,‎ and 766 patients with GI symptoms ‎along with ‎other ‎symptoms. The average hospitalization length of patients without GI ‎symptoms was significantly higher than the other two groups (P< 0.001). The abnormal HRCT results were significantly higher among patients with Isolated GI ‎symptoms (P<0.001). Patients without GI symptoms were 1.7 (95% CI: 1.003-2.908, P: 0.049) times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than those with isolated GI symptoms. Patients with isolated GI symptoms were less likely to be admitted to the ICU (95% CI: 0.174-0.987, P: 0.047).

Our study demonstrated distinct clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients based on the presence of GI symptoms. While patients who had isolated GI symptoms had more probability of lung involvement in CT scan results, the probability of being admitted to ICU is less likely in them.