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Abstract

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

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“…A study of COVID-19 patients admitted during outbreaks in a city of Iran, hypertension was a comorbidity that had no impact on hospitalization course [5]. Even hypertensive cases presented with GI symptoms of COVID-19 had a similar course of hospitalization and the outcome [6]. Recently, it was reported a single kidney adult patients who had COVID-19 had a normal renal function after a team working in his management [7].…”

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“…COVID-19 was first observed in late 2019, in China [1][2][3]. Clinical manifestations range from mild flue like symptoms to severe organ dysfunction [4][5][6]. According to the World Health Organizations (WHO), the disease is classified into 4 degrees based on severity: Grade 1: Feeling sick, Grade 2: Cold-like symptoms, runny nose, low-grade fever, low-grade cough, Grade 3: Flu-like symptoms, i.e., fever and chills, loss of appetite and muscle aches, and grade 4: Symptoms of acute respiratory distress syndrome [ARDS], severe Dyspnea, dry cough, and sometimes fever [7].…”

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“…It can have so wide range of symptoms, and also damage other organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys. Some patients eventually die from multiple organ failure, shock, coagulopathies, acute respiratory distress syndrome, heart failure, arrhythmia, and renal failure with different intensities in [3][4][5][6][7]. COVID-19 pandemic has widely affected all aspects of human life, as well as contributing stressful situations in society [8][9][10], and also management of other health related conditions [11].…”