Does COVID-19 Vaccination Cause Storage Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms?

Abstract

We investigated the storage lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) before and after the first dose of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine and the association between pre-vaccinated overactive bladder (OAB) and the worsening of storage LUTS following COVID-19 vaccination. This cross-sectional study in a third-level hospital in Taiwan used the validated pre- and post-vaccinated Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS). Diagnosis of OAB was made using pre-vaccinated OABSS. The deterioration of storage LUTS was assessed as the increased score of OABSS following vaccination. Of 889 subjects, up to 13.4% experienced worsened storage LUTS after vaccination. OAB was significantly associated with an increased risk of worsening urinary urgency (p = 0.030), frequency (p = 0.027), and seeking medical assistance due to urinary adverse events (p < 0.001) after vaccination. The OAB group faced significantly greater changes in OABSS-urgency (p = 0.003), OABSS-frequency (p = 0.025), and total OABSS (p = 0.014) after vaccination compared to those observed in the non-OAB group. Multivariate regression revealed that pre-vaccinated OAB (p = 0.003) was a risk for the deterioration of storage LUTS. In conclusion, storage LUTS may deteriorate after vaccination. OAB was significantly associated with higher risk and greater changes in worsening storage LUTS. Storage LUTS should be closely monitored after COVID-19 vaccination, especially in those OAB patients.

Short-Term Reported Urologic Adverse Events Following COVID-19 Immunization: A Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System Analysis

“…23 In line with prior literature, we found that it is not likely that the COVID-19 immunization is associated with LUTS as no adverse event within that category produced a positive signal, other than a potential overreporting of bladder spasm in Janssen vaccinations. 17 This evidence is potentiated by a previous study evaluating adverse urologic events associated with COVID-19 vaccination in 341 medical students across Jordan, which found no significant increase in the number of students with LUTS following COVID-19 immunization. 24 Data mining of the VAERS database has several limitations.…”

“…16 Similarly, though it has been demonstrated that overactive bladder (OAB) patients were more likely to report LUTS following COVID-19 immunization compared to non-OAB patients, neither OAB patients nor non-OAB patients reported statistically significant increases in the validated Chinese OAB symptom score following COVID-19 immunization. 17 Interestingly, a small Japanese study performed by Matsuzaki et al found new-onset or worsening hematuria following COVID-19 vaccination in 14 individuals, 8 (57.1%) of whom had previously diagnosed IgA nephropathy. 18 However, there are few large-volume studies examining urologic side effects of the coronavirus vaccine such as the present analysis.…”

Number of patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome seen before versus during the COVID‐19 pandemic at an academic, urban, multisite urogynecology practice

“…It is possible that this difference in age may have contributed to differences in reported symptoms 18 . COVID‐19 infection and the COVID‐19 vaccine have more recently been shown to increase inflammation in the lungs and elsewhere 14,19 . Though we did not collect information on individual COVID‐19 infection and vaccination status, it is possible that this could have contributed to IC/BPS symptomology.…”

“…18 COVID-19 infection and the COVID-19 vaccine have more recently been shown to increase inflammation in the lungs and elsewhere. 14,19 Though we did not collect information on individual COVID-19 infection and vaccination status, it is possible that this could have contributed to IC/BPS symptomology. Similarly, three in the pre-pandemic and six during the pandemic opted for cystoscopy with hydrodistension for treatment of an initial IC/BPS flare.…”

Data_Sheet_1.pdf

“…Self-reported adverse effects following COVID-19 vaccination have been described in several studies with mRNA-based (Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech) and viral vector (AstraZenko) vaccines, the most common being localized symptoms at the first dose, such as pain at the injection site, and systemic symptomatology such as weakness, headache, fever, chills and fatigue at the second dose (7,8). Several studies report an increase in lower urinary tract urological symptomatology such as increased frequency and urgency of urination (9)(10)(11). Such is the case of research published on 889 subjects where lower urinary tract and overactive bladder symptomatology was studied before and after vaccination.…”