Publication:

Extrapulmonary manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 in a tertiary care centre in South India

Background COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, extrapulmonary manifestations were also quite frequently seen among the patients. Aims and objective of the study was to assess the extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 in a selected group of patients.

Methods The study was conducted at RVM Hospital, Siddipet on patients aged between 18-99 years, confirming to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for COVID-19. A total of 307 patients have been taken into consideration for this study.

Results Cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal (GIT) were the most common extrapulmonary systems being affected apart from hematological and endocrine systems. Coronary artery disease (67%) was the most common cardiac abnormality noted and ischemic stroke (86%) was the most common neurological problem. Type 1 DM, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, hypothyroidism were the other diseases frequently encountered.

Conclusions COVID-19, whilst being primarily a respiratory disease, can also affect the various systems in the body. Having said that, the most common extrapulmonary manifestations noted were cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs), myocardial infarctions (MI), pancreatitis and diarrhea.