De Novo or Increasing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms during COVID-19 Infection: Long-term Results

Abstract

Background: How COVID-19 affects lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men has not been demonstrated by published research. This study examined the de novo development of LUTS and the change in the severity of pre-existing LUTS in men hospitalized with COVID-19. A follow-up period of 12 months after COVID-19 infection provided data on the long-term effect of COVID-19 vs. LUTS. Methods: Data were collected from 70 male patients diagnosed with COVID-19 via nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR technology between June 2020 and April 2021. The patient’s age, comorbidities, date of COVID-19 diagnosis, date of LUTS, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), creatinine, and D-dimer levels, urinalysis, urine culture and duration of hospital stay were recorded. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare between pre-COVID and post-COVID IPSS and other data. Results: 42 patients were included in this study with a, mean age of patients were 54.76 ± 11.95 years. In 8 patients there was no change in IPSS pre- vs. post-COVID. In the remaining 34 patients (80.9%), the median IPSS increased from a pre-COVID value of 2 to 10 during COVID (p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis based on age <50 years vs. ≥50 years, statistically significant increase in IPSS were found in both age groups pre- and post-COVID. Conclusions: In male patients of all ages, COVID-19 results in the de novo occurrence of LUTS and an increase in pre-existing LUTS in approximately 80% of patients. These symptoms were found to persist at a 12-months follow-up.