TITLE:
Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients with Digestive Symptoms: A Retrospective Study from Dakar, Senegal
AUTHORS:
Salamata Diallo, Alioune Badara Fall, Marie Louise Bassène, Mamadou Ngoné Gueye, Marieme Polele Fall, Mame Aissé Thioubou, Alsine Yauck, Abdoul Aziz Atteib Fall, Atoumane Faye
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Senegal
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Gastroenterology,
Vol.12 No.4,
April
15,
2022
ABSTRACT: Introduction: As of February 2022, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a
pandemic affecting all countries, with a total of 399 million patients and 5
million deaths. The lungs are the major organs involved in COVID-19. COVID-19 infection
is not limited to the respiratory system but can affect multiple organs
including the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of our study was to assess the
prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms on admission in patients with
COVID-19 and their association with adverse outcomes, including mortality. Methods: In a retrospective study, we examined medical record data from patients
with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to epidemic treatment center of hospital
Aristide Le Dantec, Dakar (Senegal) between May 1, 2020, and June 31, 2021.
SARS-CoV-2 infection was diagnosed by real-time polymerase chain reaction on
nasopharyngeal and throat swabs. We included all patients with SARS-CoV-2
infection and GI symptoms. Result: The study identified 472 hospitalized
patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during the study period. We
recruited 222 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms. The mean age of patients
with GI symptoms was 56 years [17 - 90
years], and 54.9% were male. Patients with GI symptoms had comorbidities in
66.2% of cases. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease were
the most common comorbidities at 29.3%, 23.9%, and 6.7%, respectively. Patients
with GI had cough in 69.4%, shortness of breath in 61.7%, ageusia in 57.6%, and
fever in 53.1%. At presentation among patients with GI symptoms, 32.4% had mild
disease, 27.5% had moderate disease, and 40.1% had severe disease. The
prevalence of digestive manifestations was 47%, and the main digestive
manifestations were nausea (27%), diarrhea (17.1%), abdominal pain (17.1%) and
vomiting (14.4%). GI symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting
were more common in those with hypertension (45%) and those with diabetes (43%). Conclusion: Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in patients with
COVID-19. During a pandemic, patients with GI symptoms should be considered for
SARS-CoV-2 infection.