Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Restrict Access to Emergency Urological Services: Assessment of Reorganisation Effectiveness for Hospital Treatment

Abstract

Urolithiasis derived renal colic is a common urological condition. If treated properly, the disease resolves without complications; if not treated, it causes infection and renal failure. The COVID-19 restrictions impacted hospitalised treatment of diseases. We analysed the impact of COVID-19 on renal colic treatment at a hospital in Poland. Clinical and demographic data of patients treated during the COVID-19 era were compared with those treated before this pandemic. During the COVID-19 restrictions, renal colic patient hospital admissions fell significantly. However, more patients presented with chronic renal colic symptoms and urinary tract infections. Nevertheless, the degree of hydronephrosis and the number and location of stones did not differ between the two groups. No marked changes were observed in the chosen treatment options. The observed decrease in emergency admissions of patients with acute renal colic with a simultaneous increase in the rate of infectious stones might indicate that some patients requiring urgent medical help did not report to the emergency department or came later than they would before the pandemic, reporting more serious symptoms. One plausible explanation for this may be that the reorganisation of the healthcare system restricted access to urological care. Moreover, some patients may have delayed their visit to the hospital due to the fear of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on thyroid nodular disease: a retrospective study in a single center in the western part of Romania

“…The healthcare system in our country, similar to Europe, starting from March 2020 (1), had to adjust and prioritize hospital admissions to cope with the overwhelming wave of COVID-19-positive cases. The state of emergency and lockdown, active between March 15, 2020, and May 15, 2020 (2), restricted the access of patients with chronic pathology to medical services in hospitals, a situation often encountered worldwide and mentioned in numerous studies (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). Within a relatively short period, specific protocols and guidelines were developed, recommending the rescheduling of certain surgical interventions, including those in the oncology field (9)(10)(11).…”

Double J Stents and Reno–Ureteral Lithiasis: Dynamic Changes in Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…A study carried out in Poland by Kaczmarek also showed a decrease in the hospitalization rate in the Urology department in the October-December period of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019. The number of hospitalizations decreased by 35.9% in comparison to the first peak of the pandemic in Poland and by 56.41% compared to the second peak [51].…”