Table 2.
Frequency and intensity of gastrointestinal symptoms.
| Symptoms | Total N (%) |
Mild N (%) |
Moderate N (%) |
Severe N (%) |
p valuea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diarrhoea | |||||
| Before COVID-19 | 55 (6.6) | 34 (4.1) | 18 (2.2) | 3 (0.4) | |
| At admission | 327 (39.4) | 169 (20.3) | 128 (15.4) | 30 (3.6) | <0.001 |
| During hospitalization | 263 (31.7) | 174 (21.0) | 82 (9.9) | 7 (0.8) | <0.001 |
| At discharge | 74 (8.1) | 67 (8.1) | 7 (0.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1.0 |
| From discharge to 15 days post-discharge | 64 (7.7) | 52 (6.3) | 11 (1.3) | 1 (0.1) | 1.0 |
| 15 days post-discharge | 33 (4.0) | 29 (3.5) | 3 (0.4) | 1 (0.1) | 0.01 |
| Missing data. Before COVID-19: 4 (0.5%); at admission: 3 (0.4%); during hospitalization: 21 (2.5%); at discharge: 23 (2.8%); from discharge to 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%); at 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%). | |||||
| Constipation | |||||
| Before COVID-19 | 71 (8.6) | 42 (5.1) | 22 (2.7) | 7 (0.8) | |
| At admission | 71 (8.6) | 29 (3.5) | 36 (4.3) | 6 (0.7) | 1.0 |
| During hospitalization | 117 (14.1) | 53 (6.4) | 48 (5.8) | 16 (1.9) | <0.001 |
| At discharge | 87 (10.5) | 56 (6.8) | 22 (2.7) | 9 (1.1) | 1.0 |
| From discharge to 15 days post-discharge | 71 (8.6) | 48 (5.8) | 13 (1.6) | 10 (1.2) | 1.0 |
| 15 days post-discharge | 47 (5.7) | 29 (3.5) | 15 (1.8) | 3 (0.4) | 1.0 |
| Missing data. Before COVID-19: 4 (0.5%); at admission: 3 (0.4%); during hospitalization: 22 (2.7%); at discharge: 23 (2.8%); from discharge to 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%); at 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%). | |||||
| Nausea & vomiting | |||||
| Before COVID | 30 (3.6) | 21 (2.5) | 8 (1.0) | 1 (0.1) | |
| At admission | 227 (27.4) | 134 (16.2) | 75 (9.0) | 18 (2.2) | <0.001 |
| During hospitalization | 140 (16.9) | 104 (12.5) | 32 (3.9) | 4 (0.5) | <0.001 |
| At discharge | 32 (3.9) | 28 (3.4) | 4 (0.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1.0 |
| From discharge to 15 days post-discharge | 34 (4.1) | 28 (3.4) | 4 (0.5) | 2 (0.2) | 1.0 |
| 15 days post-discharge | 20 (2.4) | 18 (2.2) | 1 (0.1) | 1 (0.1) | 0.3 |
| Missing data. Before COVID-19: 4 (0.5%); at admission: 3 (0.4%); during hospitalization: 22 (2.7%); at discharge: 23 (2.8%); from discharge to 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%); at 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%). | |||||
| Abdominal pain | |||||
| Before COVID | 47 (5.7) | 37 (4.5) | 6 (0.7) | 4 (0.5) | |
| At admission | 172 (20.7) | 92 (11.1) | 63 (7.6) | 17 (2.1) | <0.001 |
| During hospitalization | 141 (17.0) | 96 (11.6) | 41 (4.9) | 4 (0.5) | <0.001 |
| At discharge | 38 (4.6) | 30 (3.6) | 8 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1.0 |
| From discharge to 15 days post-discharge | 55 (6.6) | 44 (5.3) | 7 (0.8) | 4 (0.5) | 1.0 |
| 15 days post-discharge | 30 (3.6) | 21 (2.5) | 8 (1.0) | 1 (0.1) | 0.9 |
| Missing data. Before COVID-19: 4 (0.5%); at admission: 3 (0.4%); during hospitalization: 22 (2.7%); at discharge: 23 (2.8%); from discharge to 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%); at 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%). | |||||
| Anorexia | |||||
| Before COVID | 73 (8.8) | 50 (6.0) | 15 (1.8) | 8 (1.0) | |
| At admission | 413 (49.8) | 143 (17.2) | 162 (19.5) | 108 (13.0) | <0.001 |
| During hospitalization | 339 (40.9) | 154 (18.6) | 145 (17.5) | 40 (4.8) | <0.001 |
| At discharge | 181 (21.8) | 140 (16.9) | 30 (3.6) | 11 (1.3) | 1.0 |
| From discharge to 15 days post-discharge | 113 (13.6) | 85 (10.3) | 23 (2.8) | 5 (0.6) | 1.0 |
| 15 days post-discharge | 49 (5.9) | 38 (4.6) | 9 (1.1) | 2 (0.2) | 0.04 |
| Missing data. Before COVID-19: 5 (0.6%); at admission: 4 (0.5%); during hospitalization: 22 (2.7%); at discharge: 23 (2.8%); from discharge to 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%); at 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%). | |||||
| Gas/bloating/flatulence | |||||
| Before COVID | 63 (7.6) | 51 (6.2) | 12 (1.4) | 0 (0.0) | |
| At admission | 113 (13.6) | 70 (8.4) | 39 (4.7) | 4 (0.5) | <0.001 |
| During hospitalization | 121 (14.6) | 77 (9.3) | 37 (4.5) | 7 (0.8) | <0.001 |
| At discharge | 65 (7.8) | 47 (5.7) | 18 (2.2) | 0 (0.0) | 0.9 |
| From discharge to 15 days post-discharge | 85 (10.3) | 76 (9.2) | 9 (1.1) | 0 (0.0) | 0.2 |
| 15 days post-discharge | 57 (6.9) | 51 (6.2) | 6 (0.7) | 0 (0.0) | 0.9 |
| Missing data. Before COVID-19: 4 (0.5%); at admission: 3 (0.4%); during hospitalization: 22 (2.7%); at discharge: 23 (2.8%); from discharge to 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%); at 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%). | |||||
| Odynophagia | |||||
| Before COVID | 9 (1.0) | 6 (0.7) | 2 (0.2) | 1 (0.1) | |
| At admission | 49 (5.9) | 28 (3.4) | 17 (2.1) | 4 (0.5) | <0.001 |
| During hospitalization | 29 (3.5) | 20 (2.4) | 7 (0.8) | 2 (0.2) | 0.02 |
| At discharge | 18 (2.2) | 12 (1.4) | 5 (0.6) | 1 (0.1) | 0.6 |
| From discharge to 15 days post-discharge | 6 (0.7) | 3 (0.4) | 2 (0.2) | 1 (0.1) | 1.0 |
| 15 days post-discharge | 6 (0.7) | 4 (0.5) | 2 (0.2) | 0 (0.0) | 1.0 |
| Missing data. Before COVID-19: 4 (0.5%); at admission: 3 (0.4%); during hospitalization: 23 (2.8%); at discharge: 24 (2.9%); from discharge to 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%); at 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%). | |||||
| Heartburn/gastroesophageal reflux | |||||
| Before COVID | 41 (4.9) | 35 (4.2) | 6 (0.7) | 0 (0.0) | |
| At admission | 61 (7.4) | 38 (4.6) | 19 (2.3) | 4 (0.5) | <0.001 |
| During hospitalization | 51 (6.2) | 38 (4.6) | 11 (1.3) | 2 (0.2) | 0.5 |
| At discharge | 35 (4.2) | 27 (3.3) | 8 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1.0 |
| From discharge to 15 days post-discharge | 43 (5.2) | 32 (3.9) | 8 (1.0) | 3 (0.4) | 1.0 |
| 15 days post-discharge | 34 (4.1) | 23 (2.8) | 9 (1.1) | 2 (0.2) | 1.0 |
| Missing data. Before COVID-19: 4 (0.5%); at admission: 3 (0.4%); during hospitalization: 23 (2.8%); at discharge: 24 (2.9%); from discharge to 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%); at 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%). | |||||
| Dysphagia | |||||
| Before COVID | 8 (1.0) | 5 (0.6) | 3 (0.4) | 0 (0.0) | |
| At admission | 22 (2.7) | 11 (1.3) | 9 (1.1) | 2 (0.2) | 0.003 |
| During hospitalization | 28 (3.5) | 16 (1.9) | 9 (1.1) | 3 (0.4) | 0.003 |
| At discharge | 21 (2.5) | 16 (1.9) | 4 (0.5) | 1 (0.1) | 0.08 |
| From discharge to 15 days post-discharge | 10 (1.2) | 9 (1.1) | 1 (0.1) | 0 (0.0) | 0.2 |
| 15 days post-discharge | 7 (0.9) | 6 (0.7) | 1 (0.1) | 0 (0.0) | 0.6 |
| Missing data. Before COVID-19: 4 (0.5%); at admission: 3 (0.4%); during hospitalization: 23 (2.8%); at discharge: 24 (2.9%); from discharge to 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%); at 15 days post-discharge: 71 (8.6%). | |||||
The values in bold are those results that have reached statistical significance (p < 0.05).
a
Pairwise comparisons using Wilcoxon signed-rank test with continuity correction: each symptom during COVID-19 was compared to the pre-COVID-19 baseline presence of the symptom. Qualitative variables expressed as absolute number (%). Intensity during hospitalization and from discharge to 15 days post-discharge: higher intensity reported by the patient during those periods.