Prospective follow-up of overactive bladder symptoms in patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection

Priya Padmanabhan; Ly Hoang Roberts; Michael B Chancellor; Kenneth M Peters; Bernadette M M Zwaans

doi:10.1002/nau.25509

Prospective follow-up of overactive bladder symptoms in patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection

Neurourol Urodyn. 2024 Sep;43(7):1514-1522. doi: 10.1002/nau.25509. Epub 2024 Jun 3.

Authors

Priya Padmanabhan^{1

2}, Ly Hoang Roberts³, Michael B Chancellor^{1

2}, Kenneth M Peters^{1

2}, Bernadette M M Zwaans^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Urology, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA.
² Department of Urology, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan, USA.
³ Department of Urology, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

PMID: 38828830
DOI: 10.1002/nau.25509

Abstract

Purpose: SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in genitourinary symptoms, such as frequency, urgency, nocturia, and pain/pressure. In this study, we followed the progression of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in patients that reported new or worsening OAB symptoms after coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) diagnosis.

Materials and methods: Individuals from a COVID-19 serology study were invited to participate in a follow-up study. Respondents were divided into three groups based on prior COVID-19 testing. Patients scored symptoms retrospectively before the pandemic, at study onset, and prospectively during 12-month follow-up. Genitourinary symptoms were assessed using international consultation on incontinence questionaire for OAB (ICIQ-OAB). Change in ICIQ-OAB scores from baseline were calculated. The minimal important difference of one on ICIQ-OAB is considered a significant change.

Results: 26.0% of participants previously had positive COVID polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test (PCR+), 5.6% a positive serology test only (Ser+), and 65.5% were COVID naïve (COVID-). 23.8% of participants reported a significant increase in ICIQ-OAB score at study onset compared to prepandemic. ICIQ-OAB scores were similar at prepandemic but significantly higher at study start (p < 0.001) in PCR+ group. During follow-up, change in ICIQ-OAB scores from baseline remained unchanged for COVID- group, but gradually reduced for PCR+, reaching similar levels as COVID- group by 12 months. By 12 months, 71.4% of PCR+, 42.9% of Ser+, and 68.8% of COVID- participants still reported significant increase in ICIQ-OAB scores.

Conclusions: Most COVID-19 patients experienced return of symptoms to baseline, indicative of the potential resolution of COVID-associated cystitis. A subset of cases did not, raising questions about the underlying factors contributing to this outcome. Additional research is needed to assess long COVID on urological health.

Keywords: COVID‐19; SARS‐CoV‐2; cystitis; overactive bladder; urinary bladder; urinary incontinence.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
COVID-19* / complications
COVID-19* / diagnosis
Disease Progression
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
SARS-CoV-2
Urinary Bladder, Overactive* / diagnosis
Urinary Bladder, Overactive* / physiopathology