Shihua Luo1, Zhiqing Deng2, Xiaochun Zhang3, Zhenyu Pan2, Haibo Xu3. 1. Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China. 2. Department of Medical Service, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. 3. Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patients with 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could present with gastrointestinal symptoms without fever or respiratory manifestations, which could be overlooked by health-care providers. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in patients presenting with initial gastrointestinal symptoms. METHODS: We evaluated all confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University between January 10 and February 29, 2020. We divided these patients into two groups: patients with initial gastrointestinal symptoms (group A, n = 183) and patients with respiratory syndrome and/or fever (group B, n = 1228). The clinical characteristics, radiological features, and laboratory data were assessed. RESULTS: The clinical procedures of both groups underwent 1-2 weeks rising period and were downward trend at 3 weeks; less than 5% of patients progressed to critical illness. In both groups, mean leukocyte count (P = 0.354) and lymphocyte count (P = 0.386) were below normal, and C-reactive protein level was elevated (P = 0.412). There was mild liver function injury (aspartate aminotransferase, 65.8 ± 12.7 vs 67.4 ± 9.3 U/L, P = 0.246; alanine aminotransferase, 66.4 ± 13.2 vs 69.6 ± 12.7 U/L, P = 0.352), and normal renal function was intact (blood urea nitrogen 6.4 ± 2.5 vs 5.6 ± 2.8 mmol/L P = 0.358; creatinine 85.7 ± 37.2, 91.2 ± 32.6 μmol/L, P = 0.297). After a series of treatment, 176 and 1169 were stable and alive in groups A and B, respectively. The survival rate did not differ significantly between the groups (P = 0.313). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 patients presented with initial gastrointestinal symptoms had similar clinical characteristics and outcomes, when compared with patients with fever and respiratory symptoms.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patients with 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could present with gastrointestinal symptoms without fever or respiratory manifestations, which could be overlooked by health-care providers. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in patients presenting with initial gastrointestinal symptoms. METHODS: We evaluated all confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University between January 10 and February 29, 2020. We divided these patients into two groups: patients with initial gastrointestinal symptoms (group A, n = 183) and patients with respiratory syndrome and/or fever (group B, n = 1228). The clinical characteristics, radiological features, and laboratory data were assessed. RESULTS: The clinical procedures of both groups underwent 1-2 weeks rising period and were downward trend at 3 weeks; less than 5% of patients progressed to critical illness. In both groups, mean leukocyte count (P = 0.354) and lymphocyte count (P = 0.386) were below normal, and C-reactive protein level was elevated (P = 0.412). There was mild liver function injury (aspartate aminotransferase, 65.8 ± 12.7 vs 67.4 ± 9.3 U/L, P = 0.246; alanine aminotransferase, 66.4 ± 13.2 vs 69.6 ± 12.7 U/L, P = 0.352), and normal renal function was intact (blood ureanitrogen 6.4 ± 2.5 vs 5.6 ± 2.8 mmol/L P = 0.358; creatinine 85.7 ± 37.2, 91.2 ± 32.6 μmol/L, P = 0.297). After a series of treatment, 176 and 1169 were stable and alive in groups A and B, respectively. The survival rate did not differ significantly between the groups (P = 0.313). CONCLUSION:COVID-19patients presented with initial gastrointestinal symptoms had similar clinical characteristics and outcomes, when compared with patients with fever and respiratory symptoms.