COVID-19 infection and digestive symptoms. Analysis of an outpatient geriatric population

Abstract

Introduction: Although the main symptomatology of COVID19 is respiratory, many patients present digestive symptoms, which can be used to guide earlier diagnosis, anticipating isolation measures and the establishment of treatment. Given that older subjects present more severe forms of COVID 19, even compromising their lives, these measures are more relevant among the elderly population. Methods: In the present study, 147 cases with SarsCov-2 infection identified in a nursing home during March and April 2020 were analyzed. Aims: To analyze cases with SarsCov-2 infection identified in a nursing home, as well as to describe the clinical presentation of symptoms and the evolution of the condition in these patients. The secondary objective is to demonstrate the importance of digestive symptoms in COVID-19. Results: In 71 patients (48.3%) data of COVID-19 infection were detected by PCR and/or rapid test for specific antibodies. 39.4% were asymptomatic. Of the positive patients, 72.1% were women and the mean age was 80.8 years (SD=16.7). The most frequent symptom was diarrhea (48.8%), followed by cough (41.9%) and fever (39.5%). Diarrhea was detected on the first day of illness in 90.4%. In 33.3% it was associated with other symptoms and in 16.6% it was isolated. The mean duration of the symptoms was 11.7 days. Hospital admission was required in 30.2% of patients. 16.2% died due to respiratory complications or sepsis. Conclusions: Gastrointestinal symptoms may be frequent in COVID-19 infection and may even be the first manifestation of the disease. This group of patients had a lower proportion of complications and case fatality than usual. However, the role of digestive symptoms in COVID-19 infection needs to be verified with larger studies.