The Gastrointestinal Manifestations in Patients with COVID-19 and their Clinical Correlates in An Adult Iraqi Population Sample

The gastrointestinal system is one of the many organs in the body that have been affected by the new viral illness known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To find out the GIT symptoms are into patients with Covid-19 and how they correspond with the severity of the illness. At the Al-Shifaa facility, 172 patients infected with COVID-19 participated in our study. A clinical examination, laboratory tests (CRP, D.Dimer, and serum ferritin), a chest CT scan, and a medical history were performed on each patient. The severity of the illness and other factors were taken into consideration while evaluating the gastrointestinal symptoms. Data collection from 172 patients, 91 patients infected with COVID-19 infection, 91 patients (52.9%) had GIT manifestation, while 81 patients (47.1%) had without GIT manifestation. According to the severity 117 patients had severe infection of them 60 patients (51.3%) had GIT manifestation and 57 patients (48.7%) without GIT manifestation; 31 patients had moderate infection 20 patients (64.5%) of them had GIT  manifestation, and 11 patients (35.5%) without, 24 patients had mild infection 11 patients (45.8%) had GIT manifestation, and 13 patients( 54.2%) without. According to gender, 82 patients( 47.7%) were female (50 patients (61.0%) had GIT manifestation and 32 patients (39.9%) without), 90 patients (52.3%) were male (41 patients (45.65%) had GIT manifestation and 49 patients (54.4%) without). By comparison of inflammatory markers (in the form of CRP titer, D.Dimer, and sr. ferritin ) which were 99.21 ± 13.71, 2.13 ±0.28, and 642.66±49.95 respectively, in those with SARS-CoV-2 infection and 83.37±8.69, 2.19±0.34 and 606±58.57, respectively, for those with no GIT symptoms (p-value =0.34, 0.89, and 0.62, respectively). GIT manifestations are common symptoms in patients with COVID-19. The incidence of GIT manifestations is not affected by the disease severity in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Inflammatory markers (in the form of CRP titer, ferritin, and D-dimer) are not related to the incidence of GIT manifestations in COVID–19 infection.