Review: Manifestations and prognosis of gastrointestinal and liver involvement in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Home/Review: Manifestations and prognosis of gastrointestinal and liver involvement in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Review: Manifestations and prognosis of gastrointestinal and liver involvement in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis showed patients with severe COVID-19 had higher rates of gastrointestinal symptoms and liver injury compared with those with non-severe disease. 

  • 35 studies included in the meta-analysis
  • The pooled prevalence of digestive symptoms was 15% (95%CI: 10–21)
  • The pooled prevalence of liver injury was 19% (95%CI: 9–32). The pooled prevalence of increased ALT was 18% (95%CI: 13–25), increased AST was 21% (95%CI: 14–29), and increased total bilirubin was 6% (95%CI:3–13). The pooled prevalence of decreased albumin was 6% (95%CI:3–11)
  • Patients with digestive involvement have a tendency to progress to severe or critical disease and a poor disease course
  • Approximately 10% of patients with COVID-19 might present with gastrointestinal symptoms only, without respiratory symptoms
  • Patients with digestive system involvement as initial symptoms have delayed diagnosis of COVID-19
|2020-05-14T11:15:49-04:00May 13th, 2020|COVID-19 Literature|Comments Off on Review: Manifestations and prognosis of gastrointestinal and liver involvement in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

About the Author: Megan McHenry

Megan McHenry
Megan S. McHenry, MD, MS, FAAP is a pediatrician and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. McHenry's research focuses on early childhood development in children living in resource-limited settings. This work is frequently aligned with community-engaged research and dissemination and implementation science frameworks. She primarily conducts research in collaboration with the Academic Model for Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) Research Network in Kenya. Dr. McHenry currently has a career development award through the National Institutes of Health to develop a neurodevelopmental screening program for children born to HIV-infected mothers in Kenya. Dr. McHenry is also the Director of Pediatric Global Health Education and a co-Director of the Morris Green Physician-Scientist Development Program at Indiana University School of Medicine. In additional to global health lectures, she also educates residents and students on early childhood development, basic biostatistical techniques, research methodologies, and research ethics. She mentors multiple pediatric fellows, residents, and medical students interested in early childhood development within global contexts.

Get Involved with Indiana CTSI