Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Life Quality and Food Consumption and Choices in Recovered Covid-19 Patients

Authors : Dilşat Baş, Şengül Sangu Talak, Nur Ecem Baydi Ozman, Deniz Nadide Kitay, Hazal Çatirtan, Ayşe Sena Binöz, Nilay Öngen, Efe Onganer, Murat Baş

Pages : 438-446

Doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1086369

View : 144 | Download : 145

Publication Date : 2023-07-10

Article Type : Research Article

Abstract :ABSTRACT BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To get information about how gastrointestinal symptoms affected their nutrition and food preferences of the patients after recovering from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) . SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study was conducted with the patients between the age of 18-65 who recovered and discharged from between 15th May 2020-15th June 2020. 594 of those patints whose e-mail adress was recorded in the system was sent the questionnaire via e-mail. 76 of those patients replied the e-mail. The questionnaire contains demographical information, supplement use, food preferences, a gastrointestinal quality of life questionnaire (GIQLI) formed of 36 questions encompassing 4 area and 3 of them is about life quality: Physical function, emotional function, social function and gastrointestinal symptoms. RESULTS: Weight loss after discharge was found significant for both genders (p<0.001). The hospitalization day and the loss of appetite and smell was significantly higher in male participants (p<0.001, p<0.05 respectively). GIQLI scores of male participants were significantly higher (p<0.05). Vitamin C, probiotics and multivitamins & minerals supplements were popular among recovered COVID-19 cases. After the COVID-19 infection, an increase in patients\' fresh vegetables-fruits, nuts, yoghurt, herbal tea and water consumption was detected. Gender, the regular probiotic use before and after COVID-19 infection were significantly related to total score of GIQLI (p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Gastrointestinal system (GIS) and appetite is affected by COVID-19 infection. Healthy and symptomatic nutrition is important for treatment. The guidelines about nutrition and probiotic use should be reevaluated.
Keywords : covid-19, food, infection, diarrhea, nutrition, probiotic