Postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome after the new coronavirus infection (COVID‑19)

Background. The new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is characterized not only by respiratory manifestations but also by GI disorders. In particular, 0.17–12.5 % of survivors develop postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI–IBS) associated with the infection. Psychosocial factors, such as anxiety and depression, which were exacerbated during the pandemic, play an important role in its occurrence. The study of the relationship between COVID-19, psychosocial factors and PI–IBS is of considerable scientific and practical interest.

Aim. To conduct a comparative analysis of psychovegetative status in patients with previously diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); patients who developed IBS after coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and COVID-19 patients who did not developed IBS.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted at the University Clinical Hospital No. 1. Patients who had COVID-19 infection more than 6 months ago and met the diagnostic criteria for IBS were included in the study. Thirty patients (group 1) met the criteria of IBS. The following groups were recruited as comparison groups: group 2–40 patients with a verified diagnosis of IBS before the COVID-19 pandemic; this information was taken from the database (SPSITEST 9.0 DBMS program); group 3–30 patients who had undergone COVID-19 and did not form IBS. The control group (group 4) included 32 healthy respondents. The study assessed depression on the BEC scale, personality and reactive anxiety on the Spielberg-Hanin questionnaire.

Results of the study. In statistical analyses of group 1, the mean values of personal and reactive anxiety were 45.07±1.47 and 45.73±1.62, respectively; the mean value of depression was 10.87±1.31. The results of the mean value in group 2 were obtained: personal anxiety – 47.30±1.46, reactive anxiety – 50.73±1.96, depression – 12.85±1.13. In group 3, the mean values of personal and reactive anxiety were 44.23±1.79 and 40.67±1.77, respectively; the mean value of depression index was 9.23±1.34. In the control group (group 4) the index of personal anxiety amounted to – 36,84±0,98, reactive anxiety – 35,19±1,16, depression – 5,00±0,72. The results of examinations and analysis of psychometric indices show that both patients with IBS after new coronavirus infection (group 1) and patients with IBS diagnosed before COVID-19 pandemic (group 2) have significantly higher anxiety and depression indices than in the groups of healthy respondents (group 4) and COVID-19 survivors who did not form IBS (group 3).

Conclusion. The results of examinations and analysis of psychometric indices show that both patients with IBS after new coronavirus infection (group 1) and patients with IBS diagnosed before COVID-19 pandemic (group 2) have significantly higher anxiety and depression indices than in the groups of healthy respondents (group 4) and COVID-19 survivors who did not form IBS (group 3).Postinfectious IBS developed in 8.6 % of patients after a new COVID-19 coronavirus infection. The average age of patients was 52 years, which indicates the predominance of older patients. The key risk factors were female gender, anxiety and depressive disorders, and stress during the pandemic. It can be suggested that the new COVID-19 coronavirus infection is only a trigger for the development of IBS in predisposed individuals.

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