Prevalence and Characteristics of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Patients With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in the United States: A Multicenter Cohort Study

Abstract

Although anecdotally coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents most commonly with respiratory symptoms, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) obtains cellular entry via the widely expressed angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, thus increasing the risk of not only respiratory but also alimentary tract involvement.1, 2, 3 Early reports from China have described gastrointestinal symptoms in as many as half of patients diagnosed with COVID-19; however, data regarding the potential gastrointestinal implications of COVID-19 among the US patient population remain limited.4, 5, 6 Therefore, we aimed to systematically characterize the prevalence and features of gastrointestinal manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and evaluate gastrointestinal-specific health outcomes among a cohort of US adults.