Addressing lingering GI issues critical part of post-infection care. People who have had COVID-19 are at increased risk of developing gastrointestinal (GI) disorders within a year after infection compared with people who haven’t been infected. This is according to an analysis of federal health data
A study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care system has found that individuals who have had COVID-19 are at a higher risk of developing gastrointestinal disorders within a year of infection. These disorders include liver problems, acute pancreatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, and ulcers, as well as symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, and vomiting.
“At this point in our research, the findings on the GI tract and long COVID did not surprise us,” Al-Aly said. “The virus can be destructive, even among those considered healthy or who have had mild infections. We’re seeing COVID-19’s ability to attack any organ system in the body, sometimes with serious long-term consequences, including death.”
The researchers estimate that, so far, infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 have contributed to more than 6 million new cases of GI disorders in the U.S. and 42 million new cases worldwide. Overall, GI disorders were 36% more likely in people with COVID-19 compared with those who had not been infected with the virus. This includes people who were and were not hospitalized because of the virus.
Additionally, few people in the study had been vaccinated for COVID-19 because the vaccines were not yet widely available during the time span of the study, from March 2020 through early January 2021. The data also predates the delta, omicron, and other COVID-19 variants, and newer data indicate the COVID-19 vaccines provide at least some protection against long COVID-19.
Also compared to control groups, patients who had had the virus were 54% more likely to suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, 47% more likely to experience inflammation of the stomach lining, and 36% more likely to have an upset stomach without an obvious cause.
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