Digestive involvement in COVID-19: what we have learned in the past 12 months

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The year 2020 will remain in the medical history as the year of COVID-19 pandemic. Although COVID-19 is considered mainly a respiratory disease, it is well known now that SARS-CoV-2 can affect major organs including the digestive system. This is a comprehensive review on gastrointestinal involvement in the SARS-CoV-2 infection, also the digestive damage due to COVID-19. METHODS: A literature search was undertaken in main databases of medical publications following the search items digestive or gastrointestinal or gastric or enteral and SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19. Data on gastrointestinal symptoms and alterations in this viral condition were collected and presented. Only observational studies were included. RESULTS: In this review we discuss the recent information on the relationship between COVID-19 and the digestive system. The putative underlying pathogenic mechanisms of COVID-19 as well as the clinical findings in relation to gastrointestinal changes are presented. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 virus can affect any part of the digestive system. Patients with chronic diseases are at greatest risk of adverse out-comes. There is a considerable risk for drug-drug interactions in patients who require a large treatment schedule.