COVID-19 patients face an elevated risk of developing pancreatitis, according to a study conducted by a researcher at Little Rock-based University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Charleston Express reports.
Researchers examined patients with pancreatitis symptoms who were later confirmed to have COVID-19. They compared those patients to other patients with pancreatitis who didn't have COVID-19.
Physicians found that reported acute pancreatitis was one of the first signs of a COVID-19 infection. Despite the link, researchers couldn't confirm if COVID-19 was causing patients to develop pancreatitis.
They concluded that acute pancreatitis should be included on a list of COVID-19 symptoms.