ABSTRACT
Background and aim: Gastrointestinal manifestations in COVID-19 have been frequently acknowledged by clinicians and scientists. However, their clinical significance and potential influence on the disease outcome is not entirely elucidated. In this study we aim to evaluate gastrointestinal involvement, both digestive symptoms and liver-related changes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in correlation to the presence or absence of underlying liver disease and rate of mortality. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients, consecutively admitted in a hospital from Chisinau, between September 3, 2020 and May 31, 2021. Data on clinical symptoms and laboratory findings were collected from electronic clinical records. The cohort was divided into two groups, with and without pre-existing liver disease. The Fisher exact, Pearson Chi-square tests were used to compare groups. Results: A total of 1835 patients were included, 108 (5.9%) with pre-existing liver disease and 1727 (94.1%) without this comorbidity. Digestive symptoms were reported by 331(18%) of the patients, diarrhea being the most common symptom 11.8% (217) and being encountered more in patients with underlying chronic liver disease. No statistical difference was identified between the groups in regard to other symptoms, comorbidities and rate of mortality. But patients with chronic liver disease had significant (P < 0.001) lower ferritin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in comparison with the other group. At admission, 341 (19.2%) had increased aspartate aminotransferase level (AST) and 317 (17.8%) alanine aminotransferase. The enzyme abnormalities were predominantly mild and transitory. Abnormal AST level at admission and during follow up, higher ESR, CRP, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was found to correlate with higher rates of mortality. Conclusion: Digestive implications, especially diarrhea in COVID-19 patients is frequent, but do not appear to be associated with mortality. Elevated liver enzymes during hospitalization, age, high ferritin, CRP, LDH might be interpreted as risk factors for mortality in COVID-19 but further studies are needed to address this topic.