Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Urology Clinic Attendance: Which Diseases are Important for Patients?

Abstract

Introduction: We assessed whether there were changes in the characteristics of the patient population attending our urology clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 Material and Method: Patients attending the general urology clinic of SB-ODU Education and Research Hospital were assessed. Dates from 3 February 2020-10 March 2020 were accepted as before the pandemic, with 11 March 2020-29 May 2020 accepted as after the pandemic. Complaints of patients on attendance were grouped as follows: benign prostate hyperplasia, ureteral diseases, kidney diseases, testis and scrotum diseases, incontinence, bladder diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, penile diseases, emergency urologic problems, sexual problems, urethral diseases, kidney and ureter stones, pediatric diseases and urologic tumors. 
 Results: While 638 patients attended the urology clinic in the 1.5-month period before the pandemic, 398 patients attended in the 2.5-month period after the pandemic. Additionally, 30.9% of patients attending the clinic before the pandemic were women, while this rate fell to 23.6% after the pandemic. After the pandemic, there were statistically significant reductions identified for attendance due to BPH, ureteral diseases, kidney diseases, incontinence, bladder diseases and urethra diseases. There was no significant difference in attendance due to urinary system tumors, pediatric urologic patient group, attendance due to kidney and ureter stones, sexual problems and emergency urology problems. There were increases identified for attendance for testis and scrotum diseases and sexually-transmitted diseases. 
 Conclusion: During the pandemic, the numbers of patients attending the urology clinic significantly reduced. During the pandemic, there were increases identified for attendance at our clinic for testis and scrotum diseases and sexually-transmitted diseases. While attendance reduced for many disease groups, rates of attendance for urologic emergencies, urinary tumors, pediatric patient group, stone disease and sexual problems continued as usual.