Colon to Rectum
Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2023;58(1):6–15
Meta-analysis: Post-COVID-19 functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome
Introduction: The burden of post-COVID-19 functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains unclear. The aim of this meta-analysis was to estimate the rate of post-COVID-19 FD and IBS.
Methods: Medline, Scopus and Embase were searched through December 17, 2022. Studies reporting the incidence of FD and/or IBS in COVID-19 survivors and controls (without COVID-19), when available, according to the Rome criteria, were included. Estimated incidence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was pooled. The odds ratio (OR) with 95% CIs was pooled; heterogeneity was expressed as I2.
Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Overall, 4 studies including 1199 COVID-19 patients were considered for FD. Post-COVID-19 FD was reported by 72 patients (4%; 95% CI: 3–5%; I2 = 0%). The pooled OR for FD development (3 studies) in post-COVID-19 patients compared to controls was 8.07 (95% CI: 0.84–77.87; p = 0.071; I2 = 67.9%). Overall, 10 studies including 2763 COVID-19 patients were considered for IBS. Post-COVID-19 IBS was reported by 195 patients (12%; 95% CI: 8–16%; I2 = 95.6%; Egger’s p = 0.002 test). The pooled OR for IBS development (4 studies) in COVID-19 patients compared to controls was 6.27 (95% CI: 0.88–44.76; p = 0.067; I2 = 81.4%); considering only studies with a prospective COVID-19 cohort (3 studies), the pooled OR was 12.92 (95% CI: 3.58–46.60; p < 0.001; I2 = 0%).
Conclusions: COVID-19 survivors were found to be at risk for development of irritable bowel syndrome compared to controls. No definitive data are available for functional dyspepsia.
DOI: 10.1111/apt.17513