S1329 Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients With Gastrointestinal Manifestation and Its Clinical Outcome

Abstract

Introduction: The finding of the respiratory symptom and sign in COVID 19 patients were mostly reported in the published studies. Besides affecting the respiratory system, COVID 19 can also affect the digestive system. Gastrointestinal manifestation can occur in the course of the disease and the prevalence were varied widely. Our study investigate the prevalence and clinical outcome of hospitalized COVID 19 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms. Methods: Our study were conducted restrospectively in a single center. The data were collected from the medical report of confirmed COVID 19 patients between April – June 2020. The characteristic and clinical outcome of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea or vomiting, abdominal discomfort or pain, diarrhea, anorexia) and without gastrointestinal symptoms were compared. Results: Among the total of 232 COVID 19 cases, 59.1% (n = 137) were men, 40.9% (n = 95) were women, median age were 37 years old, and from the epidemiological history the most of patients did not recalled any contact history with confirmed COVID 19 patient. Obesity (21.6%) and hypertension (14.7%) were the most frequent comorbidities. The gastrointestinal symptoms were identified in 16.4 % (38) patients, included diarrhea (3.01%), anorexia (1.72%), nausea or vomiting (12.06%), and abdominal pain or discomfort (1.72%). The patients with gastrointestinal symptoms as compared with those without gastrointestinal symptoms be inclined to be treated in the intensive ward (13.15% vs. 2.5%; P = 0.012), had a coexisting medical condition or chronic disease (47.36% vs. 29.28%; P = 0.037), experiencing headache symptoms (7.89% vs. 0.51%; P = 0.015), and had a lower lymphocyte count (1.75 vs. 2.06; P = 0.030). No significant differences were found in mortality and length of hospital stay (P = 0.47; P = 0.08 respectively). A 42.10% of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms had an abnormal level of liver function test. Conclusion: The hospitalized COVID 19 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were associated with intensive care unit admission accordingly had a worse disease severity, but not with mortality and the length of hospital stay.