Exacerbated gastrointestinal symptoms and long COVID in IBD patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: A multi-center study from taiwan

Abstract

Background/purposeLimited studies have addressed the exacerbation of symptoms and long COVID in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients following non-severe COVID-19 infection, particularly with post-COVID-19 vaccination. We aim to investigate factors associated with exacerbated gastrointestinal symptoms (EGS) and long COVID in IBD patients with non-severe COVID-19, which is most common situation in daily practice. MethodsThis is an observational study by multiple centers in Taiwan from May 2020 to March 2023. We collected clinical manifestation, data, and medication information from IBD patients with non-severe COVID-19. EGS was defined as increased frequency of diarrhea, bloody stool, and abdomen pain within 14 days after SARS-COV-2 infection. Long COVID was defined following the guidelines of the World Health Organization. ResultsOut of 90 patients, most of them (88.9%) received at least standard two doses of COVID-19 vaccination and the majority (87.8%) were mild diseases of COVID-19.30% of patients experienced EGS during COVID-19 with higher ESR levels serving as a predictive factor (Odds ratio: 3.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.2–10.5, P = 0.02). 38.1% of those patients developed long COVID. The patients who experienced EGS during COVID-19 and with a history of longer IBD duration showed a significant association with long COVID (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02). ConclusionsOur study revealed that EGS and long COVID occurred in one third of IBD patients with non-severe COVID-19, even though most of them had received the standard plus booster vaccination. We identified associated factors for EGS and long COVID, emphasizing the importance of post-COVID-19 follow-up in IBD patients.