Publication date: Mar 21, 2025
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has highlighted the potential exacerbation of gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs). However, the distinct symptom trajectories and psychological burden in patients with post-COVID-19 DGBIs compared with patients with pre-existing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)/functional dyspepsia (FD) and non-DGBI controls remain poorly understood. To examine the long-term gastrointestinal symptom progression and psychological comorbidities in patients with post-COVID-19 DGBI, patients with pre-existing IBS/FD and non-DGBI controls. This post hoc analysis of a prospective multicenter cohort study reviewed patient charts for demographic data and medical history. Participants completed the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale at four time points: baseline, 1, 6, and 12 months, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at 6 and 12 months. The cohort was divided into three groups: (1) post-COVID-19 DGBIs (2) non-DGBI, and (3) pre-existing IBS/FD, with the post-COVID-19 DGBIs group compared to the latter two control groups. Among 599 eligible patients, 27 (4. 5%) were identified as post-COVID-19 DGBI. This group experienced worsening abdominal pain, hunger pain, heartburn, and acid regurgitation, unlike symptom improvement or stability in non-DGBI controls (p
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| 12months | anxiety |
| Coronavirus | COVID‐19 |
| Heartburn | depression |
| History | functional dyspepsia |
| Hospital | gastrointestinal symptoms |
| irritable bowel syndrome |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| disease | MESH | Symptom Burden |
| disease | IDO | symptom |
| disease | MESH | irritable bowel syndrome |
| disease | IDO | history |
| disease | MESH | Anxiety |
| disease | MESH | Depression |
| disease | MESH | gastrointestinal disorders |