A new retrospective single-center study found that those suffering from IBS, gastroparesis, and functional dyspepsia experienced more symptoms during the pandemic. This comes as no surprise considering new and added stressors as well as lifestyle changes due to the stay-at-home orders. For these individuals with functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders (FGIMD) this pandemic not only brought on more symptoms but forced patients to seek medical care more as well. These added symptoms were not a direct result of contracting COVID-19, but rather all the stress and sudden changes because of the pandemic. Let’s take a look at some specific symptoms, as well as the increase in outpatient care.
In comparison the six months before the pandemic, FGIMD had several increased symptoms. All symptoms for IBS, gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia were all calculated as a single percentage for each symptom. These include; nausea and vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. Nausea and vomiting increased by 6% from 16% to 22%. Constipation went up 4% from 13% to 17% respectively. Abdominal pain saw the highest increase at 7%, from 23% all the way to 30%. Diarrhea increased by 3% from 10% to 13%. And lastly, weight loss came in with a 1.5% increase from 4.3% to 5.8%.
Next, researchers looked at outpatient care for this group and compared it to the previous six months before the pandemic. They were surprised to find an increase here as well. Many had assumed that symptoms would increase from stress and anxiety, but thought those seeking care would trend downward as it had for many other diseases during the pandemic. A total of 2,509 FGIMD patients were evaluated and found negative for COVID-19. In comparison to the previous six months, hospital visits went from 4.78 to 5.68 per patient. There was also an increase in hospitalizations, 0.36 to 0.50; and in colonoscopies,0.4 to 0.10 as well as CT scans 0.18 to 0.23.
Primary outcomes included gastrointestinal symptom changes, as well as medication changes, and increased medical care. Researchers then looked at 2,592 FGIMD patients who received in or outpatient care at Stanford Health facilities from March 2020-September 2020 and compared findings to the previous six months. While some risk factors were increased because of gastrointestinal disorders, only 3.2% were found to be positive for COVID-19. Patients also reported more opioid and H2 blocker use during the pandemic. However, interestingly enough PPI (proton pump inhibitor) use only increased in those with functional dyspepsia. From this data 61% of patients had IBS, 29% had gastroparesis, and 46% had functional dyspepsia.
While this study is single-center observational, we have seen increases for all sorts of diseases during the pandemic, not just in FGIMD. This is primarily blamed on added stress and lifestyle changes from the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers are interested in comparing this data to new data in the next year, to see if it will trend downward when the pandemic calms down. While this has been a stressful time for all of us, those with gastrointestinal disorders have seen a sharp increase in symptoms. For many, it can be hard to not only have to deal with all the stress of the pandemic but extra symptoms too. If this, is you, consider light exercise like stretching or walking, and try to incorporate a way of relieving stress like meditation.
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