A recent study published by BMC Medicine (10/01/24) utilized data from over 800,000 individuals in the UK Biobank to investigate the long-term risks of digestive diseases in patients with prior COVID-19 infection. Both contemporary and pre-pandemic comparator groups without COVID-19 were analyzed for over 2 years of follow-up.
The results showed COVID-19 patients had significantly higher risks of various digestive outcomes including gastrointestinal dysfunction, reflux, peptic ulcer, gallbladder disease, severe liver disease, non-alcoholic liver disease, and pancreatic disease. The risks were elevated compared to both the contemporary and historical control groups.
The risks escalated in a stepwise fashion with increasing severity of the initial COVID-19 infection. Certain risks like gastrointestinal dysfunction and reflux persisted even 1 year after infection. Reinfected patients had even greater risks of some outcomes like pancreatic disease.
The findings provide evidence that beyond the acute illness, COVID-19 is associated with substantially increased long-term risks of chronic gastrointestinal, hepatic, and pancreatic sequelae. This highlights the need for awareness and preventative follow-up care.
In summary, this well-powered study leveraging pre-pandemic controls demonstrates concerning links between COVID-19 and risks of digestive diseases long after recovery from the acute infection. The results have important implications for understanding the wide-ranging systemic effects of COVID-19.
The full study can be read here.
