Irritable bowel syndrome following COVID-19: an underestimated consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are a common manifestation of COVID-19. OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate whether GI symptoms persist in patients previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the form of post-infection irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS). PATIENTS AND METHODS A prospective, single-center evaluation of questions regarding IBS was con- ducted using the Rome IV Adult Diagnostic Questionnaire among 257 patients previously hospitalized for COVID-19. RESULTS GI symptoms (abdominal pain with diarrhea or constipation) were reported at the following time points: at discharge from the hospital, and after 3 and 6 months of follow-up. GI symptoms not meeting the full Rome IV diagnostic criteria for IBS due to too short symptom duration were reported by 28 individuals (10.6%) at hospital discharge, 58 (22.3%) after 3 months, and 70 (26.9%) after 6 months. The full Rome IV criteria for IBS were not met at discharge by any of the participants, but they were met after 3 and 6 months of follow-up in 14 (5.4%) and 15 individuals (5.8%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Persistent GI symptoms following COVID-19 are frequent and deserve significant and growing attention of gastroenterologists and other health care practitioners. The Rome IV criteria may be too strict to address the full spectrum of GI symptoms following COVID-19.