Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 on Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction: Incidence, Symptom Burden, and Psychological Comorbidities

Marasco G 1 , Hod K 2 , Colecchia L 1 , Cremon C 1 , Barbaro MR 1 , Cacciari G 1 Show all authors , Falangone F 3 , Kagramanova A 4 , Bordin D 4 , Drug V 5 , Miftode E 6 , Fusaroli P 7 , Mohamed SY 8 , Ricci C 9 , Bellini M 10 , Rahman MM 11 , Melcarne L 12 , Santos J 13 , Lobo B 14 , Bor S 14 , Yapali S 15 , Akyol D 16 , Sapmaz FP 17 , Urun YY 18 , Eskazan T 19 , Celebi A 20 , Kacmaz H 21 , Ebik B 22 , Binicier HC 23 , Bugdayci MS 24 , Yağcı MB 25 , Pullukcu H 16 , Kaya BY 18 , Tureyen A 18 , Hatemi İ 19 , Koc ES 15 , Sirin G 20 , Calıskan AR 21 , Bengi G 23 , Alıs EE 26 , Lukic S 27 , Trajkovska M 28 , Dumitrascu D 29 , Pietrangelo A 30 , Corradini E 30 , Simren M 31 , Sjolund J 31 , Tornkvist N 31 , Ghoshal UC 32 , Kolokolnikova O 33 , Colecchia A 34 , Serra J 35 , Maconi G 36 , De Giorgio R 37 , Danese S 38 , Portincasa P 39 , Di Sabatino A 40 , Maggio M 41 , Philippou E 42 , Lee YY 43 , Salvi D 44 , Venturi A 44 , Borghi C 1 , Zoli M 1 , Gionchetti P 1 , Viale P 1 , Stanghellini V 1 , Barbara G 1 , GI‐COVID19 study groups

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
  • 2 Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
  • 3 Medical-Surgical Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy
  • 4 A. S. Loginov Moscow Clinical Scientific Center, Moscow, Russia
  • 5 Department of Gastroenterology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
  • 6 Department of Infectious Diseases, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
  • 7 Gastroenterology Unit, Imola Hospital, Imola, Italy
  • 8 Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
  • 9 Department of Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
  • 10 Gastroenterology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
  • 11 Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • 12 Sabadell - CIBEREHD Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí, Barcelona, Spain
  • 13 Gastroenterology Department, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
  • 14 Ege University Division of Gastroenterology, Izmir, Turkey
  • 15 Division of Gastroenterology, Acibadem University, Altunizade Acibadem Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
  • 16 Ege University Department of Infectious Diseases, Izmir, Turkey
  • 17 Division of Gastroenterology, University of Health Sciences, Keciören Education and Research Hospital, Keciören, Turkey
  • 18 Division of Gastroenterology, Eskisehir City Hospital, Eskisehir, Turkey
  • 19 Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
  • 20 Division of Gastroenterology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey
  • 21 Division of Gastroenterology, Adiyaman Education and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey
  • 22 Division of Gastroenterology, University of Health Sciences, Diyabakır Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey
  • 23 Division of Gastroenterology, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
  • 24 Division of Gastroenterology, İstanbul Aydın University Florya Liv Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
  • 25 Division of Gastroenterology, Darıca Farabi Education and Research Hospital, Kocaeli, Turkey
  • 26 Department of Infectious Diseases, İstanbul Aydın University Florya Liv Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
  • 27 Clinic for Gastroenterohepatology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • 28 Clinic of Gastroenterohepatology, Skopje, North Macedonia
  • 29 Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • 30 Internal Medicine Unit, Modena University Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
  • 31 Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
  • 32 Institute of Gastrosciences and Liver Transplantation, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata, India
  • 33 Medsi Clinical Hospital, Otradnoye, Russia
  • 34 Gastroenterology Unit, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy
  • 35 CIBERehd, University Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain
  • 36 Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, L.Sacco University Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
  • 37 Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
  • 38 Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
  • 39 Division of Internal Medicine "A. Murri", Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, (DiMePre-J) University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
  • 40 First Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
  • 41 Geriatric Clinic Unit, Medical Geriatric Rehabilitative Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
  • 42 Department of Life Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
  • 43 School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, Malaysia
  • 44 IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
United European Gastroenterol J, 2025 Mar 21.
PMID: 40119532 DOI: 10.1002/ueg2.70005

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 

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Similar publications