Changes in the Proportion of Gastrointestinal Emergency Endoscopy and Peptic Ulcer Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Local Retrospective Observational Study From Vietnam

Abstract

ObjectivesThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted the practice of gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy units and may increase the risk of digestive disorders. We described the situational changes in GI endoscopy and peptic ulcer disease (PUD) proportion during COVID-19 in Vietnam and examined the associated factors.MethodsA retrospective ecological study was conducted on data of Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Vietnam. The number of upper GI endoscopy and the proportion of GI emergency endoscopy and PUD were compared between 2019 and 2020 by month (January to June). Log-binomial regression was used to explore associated factors of GI emergency endoscopy and PUD.ResultsThe number of endoscopies decreased remarkably during the nationwide social distancing in April 2020. Compared to April 2019, the proportion in April 2020 of both GI emergency endoscopy [4.1 vs. 9.8%, proportion ratio (PR) 2.39, 95% CI 2, 2.87], and PUD [13.9 vs. 15.8%; PR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.01, 1.29] was significantly higher. In log-binomial models, the proportion of GI emergency endoscopy was higher in April 2020 compared to April 2019 (adjusted PR, 2.41; 95% CI, 2.01, 2.88). Male sex and age of ≥50 years were associated with an increased PUD and GI emergency conditions.ConclusionThe proportion of both GI emergency endoscopy and PUD was significantly higher during the time of the state of emergency due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when compared to 2019 at the same health facility in Vietnam. The findings suggest that healthcare delivery reforms during the era of an emerging pandemic are required to reduce digestive disorders, in particular, and chronic diseases in general.

Acute Abdomen Is a Rare Presentation of COVID-19 in the Absence of Respiratory Manifestations: A Case Report

“…The positive correlation between COVID-19 and the incidence of peptic ulcers was suggested by the study of Dao et al, which showed that the incidence of peptic ulcers was significantly higher during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 compared to 2019 in the same health facility in Vietnam [ 4 ], and by the study of Jian et al, which confirmed the same findings in two hospitals in Wuhan, China, during the pandemic [ 5 ].…”

A Meta-Analysis on the Association between Peptic Ulcer Disease and COVID-19 Severity

“…In addition, some other studies investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of peptic ulcer disease. For example, research by Dao et al observed that the proportion of peptic ulcer disease was significantly higher during the time of the state of emergency due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when compared to 2019 at the same health facility in Vietnam [ 75 ]. In line with Dao et al’s study, Jian et al observed that the rate of peptic ulcer disease increased dramatically in two hospitals in Wuhan, China, in 2020.…”

Infección por SARS-CoV-2 como Factor de Riesgo para Úlcera Gastro Duodenal en Pacientes del Centro Médico Naval

“…En uso de anticoagulantes y esteroides en los pacientes de UCI en área COVID pudiesen aumentar el riesgo de desarrollo de ulceras gástricas y duodenales, sin embargo, no hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa, al igual que lo reportado por Dao H. et al 18 y Trinidade et al 19 , por lo que fuesen necesarios estudios estadísticamente más robustos, lo que fue limitado por un contexto de emergencia sanitaria mundial.…”