Background: 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. Objectives: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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 < 0.001 for all symptoms, except hunger pain, p = 0.001). While patients with pre-existing IBS/FD improved in most gastrointestinal symptoms but worsened in constipation and incomplete evacuation, patients with post-COVID-19 DGBI exhibited consistent symptom deterioration across multiple gastrointestinal domains. Anxiety and depression remained unchanged in patients with post-COVID-19 DGBI, contrasting with significant reductions in controls (non-DGBI: p = 0.003 and p = 0.057; pre-existing IBS/FD: p = 0.019 and p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusions: COVID-19 infection is associated with the development of newly diagnosed DGBIs and distinct symptom trajectories when compared with patients with pre-existing IBS/FD. Patients with post-COVID-19 DGBI experience progressive gastrointestinal symptom deterioration and persistent psychological distress, underscoring the need for tailored management strategies for this unique subgroup.
Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 on Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction: Incidence, Symptom Burden, and Psychological Comorbidities / Marasco, G.; Hod, K.; Colecchia, L.; Cremon, C.; Barbaro, M. R.; Cacciari, G.; Falangone, F.; Kagramanova, A.; Bordin, D.; Drug, V.; Miftode, E.; Fusaroli, P.; Mohamed, S. Y.; Ricci, C.; Bellini, M.; Rahman, M. M.; Melcarne, L.; Santos, J.; Lobo, B.; Bor, S.; Yapali, S.; Akyol, D.; Sapmaz, F. P.; Urun, Y. Y.; Eskazan, T.; Celebi, A.; Kacmaz, H.; Ebik, B.; Binicier, H. C.; Bugdayci, M. S.; Yağcı, M. B.; Pullukcu, H.; Kaya, B. Y.; Tureyen, A.; Hatemi, İ.; Koc, E. S.; Sirin, G.; Calıskan, A. R.; Bengi, G.; Alıs, E. E.; Lukic, S.; Trajkovska, M.; Dumitrascu, D.; Pietrangelo, A.; Corradini, E.; Simren, M.; Sjolund, J.; Tornkvist, N.; Ghoshal, U. C.; Kolokolnikova, O.; Colecchia, A.; Serra, J.; Maconi, G.; De Giorgio, R.; Danese, S.; Portincasa, P.; Di Sabatino, A.; Maggio, M.; Philippou, E.; Lee, Y. Y.; Salvi, D.; Venturi, A.; Borghi, C.; Zoli, M.; Gionchetti, P.; Viale, P.; Stanghellini, V.; Barbara, G.. - In: UNITED EUROPEAN GASTROENTEROLOGY JOURNAL. - ISSN 2050-6406. - (2025), pp. 1-21. [10.1002/ueg2.70005]
Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 on Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction: Incidence, Symptom Burden, and Psychological Comorbidities
Pietrangelo A.;Corradini E.;Colecchia A.;Serra J.;De Giorgio R.;Danese S.;Di Sabatino A.;Maggio M.;
2025
Abstract
Background: 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. Objectives: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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 < 0.001 for all symptoms, except hunger pain, p = 0.001). While patients with pre-existing IBS/FD improved in most gastrointestinal symptoms but worsened in constipation and incomplete evacuation, patients with post-COVID-19 DGBI exhibited consistent symptom deterioration across multiple gastrointestinal domains. Anxiety and depression remained unchanged in patients with post-COVID-19 DGBI, contrasting with significant reductions in controls (non-DGBI: p = 0.003 and p = 0.057; pre-existing IBS/FD: p = 0.019 and p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusions: COVID-19 infection is associated with the development of newly diagnosed DGBIs and distinct symptom trajectories when compared with patients with pre-existing IBS/FD. Patients with post-COVID-19 DGBI experience progressive gastrointestinal symptom deterioration and persistent psychological distress, underscoring the need for tailored management strategies for this unique subgroup.
| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
UEG Journal - 2025 - Marasco - Long‐Term Impact of COVID‐19 on Disorders of Gut Brain Interaction Incidence Symptom.pdf
Open access
Tipologia:
VOR - Versione pubblicata dall'editore
Dimensione
902.81 kB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
902.81 kB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
Pubblicazioni consigliate
I metadati presenti in IRIS UNIMORE sono rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal, mentre i file delle pubblicazioni sono rilasciati con licenza Attribuzione 4.0 Internazionale (CC BY 4.0), salvo diversa indicazione.
In caso di violazione di copyright, contattare Supporto Iris
