Background
Literature is sparse on COVID-19-associated cystitis (CAC), a novel condition comprising frequency, urgency, and nocturia after COVID-19 infection.
Aim
Determine the incidence of CAC and the correlation with the levels of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
Design, setting and participants.
This was a retrospective study in which urinary symptoms were scored using the International Consultation on Incontinence-Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (ICIQ-OAB) at three time points: before the pandemic (January 2020), 2 months after infection with COVID-19 (if applicable) and at the time of the study (May 2021).
The setting was a regional health system. All 18,785 healthcare employees who were part of the BLAST COVID study group were invited to participate, of whom 1,895 responded.
Outcome measurements and statistical analysis
The outcome measured was the percentage of COVID-positive patients with a significant change in ICIQ-OAB over time. Pearson’s χ 2 test was used for comparison of categorical data and one-way analysis of variance for continuous data and multivariate analysis. A sample size of 618 was calculated for 80% power and α = 0.05.
Results and limitations
Of the 1,895 participants , 31.9% (n = 605) tested positive for COVID-19 based on positive serology or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Of these, 492 were PCR positive and had 2-month post-infection data, with 36.4% (179/492) reporting an increase of ≥1 point in ICIQ-OAB compared to baseline (before the pandemic), with de novo OAB in 22% of these cases (40/179).
Comparison of symptoms between baseline and study time revealed that 27.4% (31/113) of those with positive serology only (asymptomatic COVID) and 37.8% (186/492) of those with positive of CRP (symptomatic COVID) had an increase of ≥ 1 point in the ICIQ-OAB, compared to 15.8% (n = 204) of uninfected patients, with odds ratio of 2.013 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.294 -3.138; p = 0.0015) and 3.236 (95% CI 2.548-4.080; p < 0.0001), respectively. The retrospective nature of the study and the sample of volunteers are limitations.
Conclusions COVID-19 infection increases the risk of developing new or worsening overactive bladder symptoms. Final message We compared overactive bladder symptoms in a large group of participants between people with and without prior COVID-19 infection. We found that symptomatic infection was associated with a three-fold increased risk of developing new or worsening overactive bladder symptoms among patients. |
Comments
COVID-19 infection is associated with an increased risk of developing new or worsening overactive bladder symptoms, according to a study published in the December issue of European Urology Open Science .
Ly Hoang Roberts, of Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Royal Oak, Michigan, and colleagues evaluated the incidence of COVID-19-associated cystitis (CAC) and its association with coronavirus antibody levels. 2 of severe acute respiratory syndrome. The analysis included 1,895 healthcare employees who participated in the BLAST COVID study group.
The researchers found that 27.4 percent of those with positive serology only (asymptomatic COVID-19) and 37.8 percent of those with polymerase chain reaction positivity (symptomatic COVID-19) had an increase of 1 or more points on the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire. overactive bladder from baseline, compared to 15.8 percent of uninfected patients (odds ratio, 2.0 and 3.2, respectively).
"The exact pathophysiology of CAC has yet to be discovered, although others have hypothesized that increased systemic inflammation in COVID-19 infection may lead to bladder inflammation and therefore bothersome urinary symptoms," the authors write.
