Changes in Gastritis During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Comparative Study According to the Sydney Criteria

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused changes in the severity of gastritis, as assessed by the Sydney criteria, through a retrospective comparison of patients in the pre- and post-pandemic periods. Methods: Pathology reports of 107 pre-pandemic patients until March 2019 and 96 post-pandemic patients until May 2023, who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for dyspeptic complaints and were diagnosed with gastritis were retrospectively analyzed. Gastritis severity was assessed according to the Sydney criteria. Percentages were calculated and compared. Results: The pre-pandemic group included 62 women and 45 men (mean age 58.6 years). The post-pandemic group included 50 women and 46 men (mean age 57.6 years). No significant demographic differences were observed. According to the Sydney criteria, no permanent effect of COVID-19 on gastritis severity was identified. Conclusion: Our study found no significant differences in gastritis severity between the periods before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Larger prospective studies are required to further explore potential long-term effects.