Meta‐analysis: Post‐COVID‐19 functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome
Giovanni Marasco, Marcello Maida, Cesare Cremon, Maria Raffaella Barbaro, Vincenzo Stanghellini, Giovanni Barbara
Abstract
Summary 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 17 December 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 (CI) was pooled. The odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was pooled; heterogeneity was expressed as I 2 . Results Ten studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Overall, four studies including 1199 COVID‐19 patients were considered for FD. Post‐COVID‐19 FD was reported by 72 patients (4%, 95% CI: 3%–5% and I 2 0%). The pooled OR for FD development (three studies) in post‐COVID‐19 patients compared to controls was 8.07 (95% CI: 0.84–77.87, p = 0.071 and I 2 = 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%, I 2 95.6% and Egger's p = 0.002 test). The pooled OR for IBS development (four studies) in COVID‐19 patients compared to controls was 6.27 (95% CI: 0.88–44.76, p = 0.067 and I 2 = 81.4%); considering only studies with a prospective COVID‐19 cohort (three studies), the pooled OR was 12.92 (95% CI: 3.58–46.60, p < 0.001 and I 2 = 0%). Conclusions COVID‐19 survivors were found to be at risk for IBS development compared to controls. No definitive data are available for FD.