Evaluation of Overactive Bladder Symptoms in Patients Recovering from Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome

Abstract

Purpose Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a multi-organ viral infection with many manifestations. However, its impact on the genitourinary system is nowadays under investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the consequences on bladder function in patients suffering from post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) transferred to inpatient rehabilitation for long-term care after initial treatment for COVID-19 pathophysiology. Materials and Methods All the patients were initially asked the question (after having recovered from the acute stage of COVID-19 disease): “Have you noticed a sudden, uncontrolled need to urinate and sometimes a urine leakage accompanying the voiding desire?” Sixty-six out of 147 patients responded positively to this question and were assessed with the AUA Urology Care Foundation Overactive Bladder Assessment Tool (AUA-OAB-tool). All included men were evaluated with the IPSS score. Results The median age of patients was 59.5 (range 44–72). We identified 44 patients with newly diagnosed OAB (Group A; post-COVID assessment) and 22 with worsening OAB symptoms (Group B). The mean symptom score ± standard deviation in Group A patients was 18.25 ± 2.11 (using the above AUA OAB tool). In the patients of Group B, there was an increase in the above score from 10.43 ± 1.52 (pre-COVID condition) to 17.87 ± 1.89 (post-COVID assessment). In patients of Group A, the total quality of life (QOL) score was 17.74 ± 2.34. Patients in Group B presented an escalation in total QOL score from 9.04 ± 1.41 (pre-COVID) to 18.84 ± 1.96 (post-COVID condition). There was no statistically significant difference in symptoms and QOL scores between men and women in groups A and B. There were 11 men in Group A and 5 in Group B with an IPSS score >20. Conclusion OAB symptoms may be essential to PACS syndrome and influence quality of life, delaying full recovery.

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in a prospective cohort of COVID-19 survivors

“…In other populational studies from different countries the prevalence of moderate to severe LUTS is typically less than 25% considering the age distribution of our patients ( 23 – 25 ). We showed a predominance of storage symptoms in patients with long COVID, which is consistent with studies reporting on LUTS in the acute phase of COVID-19 ( 9 , 11 , 22 ) and also with the study from Zachariou et al, who found a high prevalence of overactive bladder among patients who had been hospitalized due to COVID-19 ( 14 ). Interestingly, we found minor differences between men and women and no impact of age in the prevalence of LUTS.…”

“…However, the long-term effects of COVID-19 on LUTS have been poorly evaluated and the prevalence of LUTS in patients who recovered from COVID-19 remains unknown (12,13). In a study from Greece, a high prevalence of increased urinary frequency and urgency consistent with the diagnosis of overactive bladder has been reported in patients who were suffering with long COVID (14). The study did not evaluate the prevalence of LUTS in the population, since they only included 66 patients who reported having urinary urgency.…”

Frequency of Urinary Incontinence Among Post COVID Males

“…Athanasios Zachariou et al's 2022 study also resonates with our findings, reporting that 68.5% of patients with Post Acute Covid Syndrome experienced new or exacerbated urinary symptoms [22]. Our study's identification of the variety and frequency of incontinence symptoms, particularly urgency and postvoid dribbling, complements Zachariou's conclusion on the worsening of overactive bladder symptoms after COVID-19 infection.…”

Sintomas del Tracto Urinario Bajo Asociados a COVID-19

“…nos demuestra también que la vejiga hiperactiva puede contribuir en el síndrome postagudo de COVID-19 demostrando la presencia de síntomas post COVID-19 en 46 de 147 pacientes evaluados en donde se dividieron en dos grupos distintos; En el grupo A se incluyeron a 44 pacientes con el diagnostico reciente de vejiga hiperactiva post-COVID y en el grupo B a 22 pacientes con síntomas de vejiga hiperactiva que empeoraron. En donde en ambos grupos se encontró una disminución de la calidad de vida 8 . Esto demuestra que en aquellos pacientes con el diagnóstico de COVID-19 pueden desarrollar síntomas urinarios ya sea con el antecedente de vejiga hiperactiva e incluso con aparición de síntomas de Novo.…”