Long-term gastrointestinal sequelae following COVID-19: A prospective follow-up cohort study 2022 Golla et al

Abstract

Background and aims: COVID-19 is associated with long-term gastrointestinal sequelae; however, prospective longitudinal data are sparse. We prospectively studied the frequency, spectrum and risk factors of post infection functional gastro-intestinal disorders/disorders of gut-brain interaction (PI-FGID/DGBI) following COVID-19.

Methods: 320 cases with COVID-19 and two control groups: (Group-A) 320 healthy spouses/family controls and (Group B) 280 healthy COVID serology-negative controls were prospectively followed up at 1,3 and 6 months using validated Rome IV criteria to evaluate the frequency of PI-FGID/DGBI.

Results: Of 320 cases, at 1 month, 36 (11.3%) developed FGID symptoms. Persistent symptoms were noted in 27 (8.4%) at 3 months, and in 21 (6.6%) at 6 months. At 3 months, 8 (2.5%) had irritable bowel syndrome, 7 (2.2%) had functional diarrhea, 6 (1.9%) had functional dyspepsia, 3 (0.9%) had functional constipation, 2 (0.6%) had FD-IBS overlap, and 1 (0.3%) had functional abdominal bloating/distension. Among symptomatic individuals at 3 months, 8 (29.6%) were positive for isolated carbohydrate malabsorption, 1 (3.7%) was positive for post infection malabsorption syndrome (PI-MAS) and 1 (3.7%) was positive for Intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO). None of the healthy controls developed FGID up to 6 months of follow up (p<0.01). Predictive factors at 3 and 6 months were severity of infection (p<0.01) and presence of GI symptoms at the time of infection (p<0.01).

Conclusion: COVID-19 led to significantly higher number of new onset PI-FGID/DGBI compared to healthy controls at 3 and 6 months of follow-up. If further investigated some patients can be diagnosed with underlying malabsorption.

Open access, https://www.cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565(22)01004-7/fulltext

 

So they just slap a "functional" label, then call it a day. Good enough. With gut-brain axis thrown in just because, like a mantra.

WTH is "functional diarrhea" or constipation? Or "functional bloating"? How is bloating functional or not? What is this absolute nonsense?

And is that abnormality in the room with you right now? Is it in the hand-waves forcefully direction?

That's all the discussion or definition of "functional" in the paper. It's asserted as a fact that is self-evident and doesn't need to be explained. It's considered as much a fact as the Moon orbiting the Earth. It just does, everyone knows it, no need to clarify what it means.

This is, once again, completely unserious. It amounts to calling something magic by labelling it magic, thinking it's good enough, and arguing having found evidence of magic. Self-referential pseudoscience.